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1996

December 11 At 11.53 am, Mr Tung Chee-hwa secures 201 votes to become the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Preparatory Committee chairman Qian Qichen says: 'I now declare Tung Chee-hwa has been elected as the designate for the first Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region.'

1997

July 1 Mr Tung sworn in at 1am. 'For the first time in history, we, the people of Hong Kong, will be masters of our own destiny,' he declares.

July 2 Mr Tung awards the first Grand Bauhinia Medals to 12 people in Government House.

July 16 First meet-the-people session, at the Boys and Girls Clubs Association of HK, in Cheung Sha Wan.

Aug 17 Mr Tung, Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang and local and mainland Chinese officials bid farewell to Xinhua (New China News Agency) chief, Zhou Nan, at Kai Tak Airport.

Aug 30 Meets Liao Hui, director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in his first official meeting, in Shenzhen.

Sept 10 Makes maiden trip to Washington as Chief Executive. Visits Singapore and Malaysia before the trip.

Sept 12 Meets US president Bill Clinton in the White House; describes talks as 'warm and useful'.

Sept 20 Urges speedy inclusion of China in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in opening address at World Bank/International Monetary Fund annual meeting in Hong Kong.

Sept 22 Warns speculators against attacks on HK dollar; spells out measures to maintain the SAR as a financial hub.

Oct 1 Marks first National Day under Chinese rule with a flag-raising ceremony at PLA barracks.

Oct 8 Marks 100 days since handover with first policy address; also becomes first Chinese leader to make annual policy address in Legco.

0ct 15 Visits Tokyo.

Oct 21 Has 'comprehensive and useful' meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London; stops over in Amsterdam and Brussels on Oct 20.

Nov 10 Selected to chair presidium overseeing selection of local delegates to the National People's Congress.

Nov 17 Reiterates that the delinking of the HK dollar peg is not an option.

Nov 23 Meets Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien at Apec meeting in Vancouver.

Dec 6 Trips and falls at start of a campaign to enrol voters for the 1998 elections.

Dec 9-11 First duty visit to Beijing. Gets top leaders' full support, and plans to strengthen ties between the SAR and the central government.

Dec 18 Mr Tung and wife Betty visit Queen Mary Hospital where daugther Audrey Slighton Tung Lieh-yuan gave birth to two boys - Mr Tung's first grandsons - and a girl by Caesarean section.

1998

Feb 11 National People's Congress chairman Qiao Shi says he has confidence in the HK Government despite recent attacks on the administration over its handling of financial and social crises.

Feb 12 Mr Tung chairs first meeting of Commis-sion on Strategic Development; decides to bring in consultants to study ways to maintain competitiveness.

Feb 13 Government unveils a HK$233 billion blueprint to fulfil Mr Tung's post-handover pledges on education and livelihood improvements.

Feb 14 First time on Letter From Hong Kong on RTHK. Pledges to form and develop more land and boost land reserves to stabilise property prices.

Feb 19 Defends first budget from criticism that it did not do enough for the grassroots.

Feb 27 In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Mr Tung discusses achievements in the SAR's first eight months.

March 4 Mr Tung's comments that government broadcaster, RTHK, should be promoting official policy, causes concern.

March 9 Meets German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Bonn at the start of a visit to Germany and France.

April 3 A visiting British parliamentary delegation urges Mr Tung to speed up democratic reforms.

April 21 In the wake of high unemployment, rejects the idea of giving the dole to the unemployed; calls on the people not to lose confidence.

May 24 Mr Tung and wife Betty cast their vote at St Joseph's College, Kennedy Road, in the Hong Kong Island constituency in the first Legco elections.

June 22 Mr Tung unveils a HK$44 billion rescue package to ease pressure on the economy, which he says is at a 'critical stage'; land sales halted.

June 30 Delivers optimistic message to mark first anniversary of the handover.

July 1 First anniversary of reunification marked assurances from President Jiang Zemin and Mr Tung that the economic problems will be overcome.

July 2 President Clinton pledges the US will do whatever it can to help Asia recover from the financial crisis. Speaking at a dinner hosted by Mr Tung at Government House, Mr Clinton stresses the importance of Hong Kong to the US and the world.

Oct 7 In his second policy address, titled 'From Adversity To Opportunity', Mr Tung admits the economic crisis will likely continue well into 1999; announces a HK$5 billion Innovation and Technology Fund and an Applied Science and Technology Research Institute.

Oct 9 Mr Tung meets British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Government House.

Oct 30 Mr Tung and former governor Chris Patten exchange views on economy in their first such meeting since the handover.

1999

Jan 11 Meets visiting US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan.

Jan 29 Court of Final Appeal rules immigration laws cannot be made retrospective, allowing many mainland children to stay, also giving SAR courts the power to interfere in NPC decisions which break the Basic Law. The court ruled on two sets of test cases involving a total of 85 migrants. Mr Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang gave the ruling with Mr Justice Henry Litton, Mr Justice Charles Ching, Mr Justice Kemal Bokhary and Sir Anthony Mason.

Feb 4 Mr Tung refuses to rule out the possibility of consulting the NPC on the Court of Final Appeal's ruling on the right of abode case; says the ruling would have a 'far-reaching and adverse' impact on Hong Kong.

March 4 Mr Tung attends opening of SAR office in Beijing.

March 23 Ends speculation about Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang's future, saying she will remain as the top civil servant until June 30, 2002 - 2.5 years beyond her official retirement age.

May 18 Four months after the Court of Final Appeal's controversial ruling, Mr Tung announces he would ask the NPC Standing Committee to 'confirm the true legislative intent' of the relevant provisions. The NPC is to be asked to reinterpret the Basic Law to cut the number of mainlanders eligible to live here from an estimated 1.67 million to 200,000.

May 22 Mr Tung, Buddhist Association of China's president Zhao Puchu, Director-General of State Administration for Religious Affairs Ye Xiaowen and Xinhua chief Jiang Enzhu officiate at prayers at the Coliseum to commemorate the Buddha's birthday and the start of the first SAR public holiday to mark the occasion.

July 1 On second anniversary of the handover, Mr Tung and visiting Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao unveil the Reunification Monument, with calligraphy by Mr Jiang engraved on the facade.

Oct 1 On National Day, Mr Tung tells 20,000 people at the Hong Kong Stadium that the SAR has recovered from Asia's financial turmoil with renewed vitality, confidence and resolve.

Oct 6 In his third policy address, Mr Tung outlines strategies to clean up the environment and nurture talent to make Hong Kong a world-class city; announces HK$30 billion package to make Hong Kong a green model for Asia. The policy address is titled 'Quality People, Quality Home'.

Oct 14 Opens PLA Museum, in the Central Barracks administrative block, formerly the Prince of Wales Building.

Oct 25 Breaking his silence on the controversial transfer of the Director of Broadcasting Cheung Man-yee to a trade post in Tokyo, Mr Tung says sceptics who doubt RTHK's editorial independence would be proven wrong.

Nov 2 Mr Tung releases details of the HK-Disneyland project, a HK$21 billion deal hammered out for a theme park on Lantau.

Nov 28 After touring a counting station in Causeway Bay, Mr Tung says the district council election has been 'perfect'.

Dec 11 Mr Tung and a top mainland official warn Falun Gong demonstrators to limit themselves to legal activities in HK as hundreds of followers from around the world parade in the SAR.

Dec 31 Mr Tung joins a big public party at the Happy Valley racecourse to herald the New Millennium.

2000

Jan 8 Mr Tung says he is not considering a shift towards a ministerial system of government.

Jan 13 Admits his target to supply 85,000 flats a year may not be met, following a decision to reduce subsidised housing.

Jan 5: US authorities catch 14 more Chinese illegal immigrants fleeing a container ship docked in Seattle as a wave of people-smuggling, some passing through Hong Kong, hits North America. The shipping line owned by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's family, Orient Overseas Container Line, says it will buy hi-tech equipment to detect stowaways.

March 6: As tech fever grips the city, Mr Tung appeals for caution when buying dotcom stocks.

April 7: US President Bill Clinton calls for progress towards full democracy in Hong Kong while praising Mr Tung's efforts to push a crucial China trade vote through US Congress.

April 16: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid meets Mr Tung during a visit to address the Asia Society.

May 16: Mr Tung reappoints Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie for two more years.

May 25: Mr Tung dismisses charges that Housing Authority chairman Rosanna Wong Yick-ming and other senior officials should be sacked over the Sha Tin piling scandal.

June 2: Mr Tung and Shanghai Mayor Xu Kuangdi call for greater co-operation in the development of financial markets, high-tech and investment in the mainland's interior.

June 7: A non-affiliated legislator becomes the first lawmaker to gain Mr Tung's written consent to move a private member's bill relating to a government policy.

June 31: Mr Tung reveals that his target of providing 85,000 new flats a year had 'existed only in name, not in substance' since 1998.

July 1: Thousands of protesters decry Mr Tung on the SAR's fourth anniversary.

July 7: Mr Tung supports the right of universities to conduct opinion surveys, a day after a leading pollster accused him of trying to stop such polls. Mr Tung denies putting pressure on Robert Chung Ting-yiu of Hong Kong University not to conduct surveys on the Chief Executive's popularity or government credibility.

July 29: Mr Tung and his aide Andrew Lo Cheung-on asked to attend hearings to investigate whether the Chief Executive had tried to meddle in HKU opinion polls.

August 2: Mr Tung visits Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital to comfort victims and families affected by a fire set off by mainland migrants at Immigraton Tower.

September 11: Mr Tung says he hopes he can build up a good and constructive working relationship with the newly-elected Legco.

Sep 20: Mr Tung says Hong Kong will benefit from US Congress approval of Permanent Normal Trading Relations with China.

October 11: In his policy address, Mr Tung focuses on education, poverty and governance; he also touches on information technology, housing, the environment and health care.

Oct 27: During a meeting with Mr Tung in Beijing, Mr Jiang launches a scathing attack on the Hong Kong media, which had asked the Chief Executive whether it was an 'imperial order' from Beijing that he serve a second term.

November 12: Mr Tung expresses disappointment after Hong Kong fails in its bid to host Asian Games 2006, at voting in Doha, Qatar.

Nov 13: Visits Shenzhen to attend ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Special Economic Zone. Mr Tung leaves for Brunei later in the day to attend an Apec forum.

December 29: Makes his first visit to Guangdong, where he says his job is tough but that he is not discouraged by criticism.

2001

January 12: Mr Tung accepts Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang's resignation.

February 8: Mr Tung vows to keep a close watch on Falun Gong activities, warning that the administration would not allow any abuse to Hong Kong freedoms and tolerance.

Feb 15: Mr Tung names Donald Tsang Yam-kuen as Chief Secretary, and banker Antony Leung Kam-chung as Financial Secretary.

March 7: Vice-premier Qian Qichen expresses open support for Tung Chee-hwa to run for another term as Chief Executive in 2002, saying it would be good for the SAR stability and prosperity.

April 27: On her last day in office, former Chief Secretary Anson Chan receives praise from Mr Tung.

May 10: Unveils HK$9 million dragon logo to promote Hong Kong.

May 18: Mr Tung orders the slaughter of 1.2 million chickens following an outbreak of bird flu.

June 27: Mr Tung condemns possible industrial action by Cathay Pacific pilots, describing them as among the best-paid in the world.

July 1: Mr Tung and other officials attend a flag-raising ceremony to mark the handover anniversary, outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

July 13: Beijing wins its bid to host the Olympics. Mr Tung extends his congratulations by satellite from San Francisco. August 27: Meets visiting Guangdong governor Lu Ruihua, who says co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong would result in a win-win situation.

September 12: Following terror attacks in New York and Washington, Mr Tung extends his condolences to families of the victims to US Consul-General, Michael Klosson.

October 1: Calls for unity on National Day.

Oct 10: In his fifth policy address, Mr Tung unveils a HK$15 billion package of new jobs, modest tax relief and business-friendly measures for a Hong Kong hit by its worst economic crisis in decades. The address was titled: 'Building on our Strengths, Investing in our Future'.

July 12: Mr Tung defends Hong Kong's record on a range of freedom issues in his first White House meeting with US President George W Bush. He also meets Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

November 7: During a visit to the SAR, former US president George Bush discusses with Mr Tung the impact of the US economic downturn on Hong Kong.

December 13: Mr Tung announces his decision to seek a second term as Chief Executive; speaking to 800 high-powered supporters, Mr Tung promises to improve his performance: 'I have constantly reflected on how we could have done better, for there are undoubtedly deficiencies.'

2002

February 4: Responding to another wave of bird flu, Mr Tung says three bird flu outbreaks in four years was unacceptable.

Feb 7: Mr Tung breaks from protocol to launch a scathing personal attack on Democratic Party leader Martin Lee Chu-ming, during one of the Chief Executive's rare appearances before legislators.

Feb 25: In a TV interview, Mr Tung admits not knowing how much his father loved him until after his death. 'He rarely expressed his emotions, although all along I guessed he cared about me,' he says of his father, Tung Chao-yung. 'After he passed away, I read his diary in which he frequently mentioned me. It dawned on me then how much he really cared about me.'

Feb 18: Tung Chee-hwa is assured of a second term as chief executive, having secured enough Election Committee support to prevent anyone running against him; sources say he had slightly more than 700 of the committee's 800 members listed on his nomination form.



Highs and lows of Tung's first five years