GDP up 6.2% in third quarter
Hong Kong’s economy remained vibrant in the third quarter of 2007, with GDP up 6.2% compared to a year earlier, according to acting Government Economist Helen Chan.

This followed a robust 6.1% growth in the first half of the year and also marked the 16th consecutive quarter of distinctly above-trend growth.

Merchandise exports grew notably in the third quarter, up 6.4%.

Global awards for Wetland Park
Hong Kong Wetland Park recently won the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2007 Global Award for Excellence.

Designed and developed by the Architectural Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the park is one of five developments to win the award. The other winners are Seattle’s High Point, Philadelphia’s Urban Outfitters Corporate Campus, Poland’s Manufaktura and Paris’ Meudon Campus.

Sha Tin a 'great choice': Paralympic Committee president
The President of the International Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven, who was in Hong Kong on a short visit, visited the Sha Tin venue on October 27, ahead of next September’s Para-Equestrian Events of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Sir Craven declared the venue a “great choice, which seems to be logically laid out.”He added that Sha Tin “will make an excellent arena for paralympics.”

Countdown starts to Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games
The Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled jointly launched the “300-day Countdown to Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games” on November 11. The countdown will include a series of activities to promote the Paralympic and Olympic Games.

Officiating at the So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun, ceremony, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau said the government will gradually step up its publicity efforts to promote the Games.

Equestrian pavilion opens
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has set up a purpose-built Equestrian Pavilion in Penfold Park, Sha Tin, to boost public interest in equestrian sports and next year's Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong. The Pavilion will be open until the end of April 2008. Admission is free.

Officiating at the opening ceremony on November 4, HKJC chairman John Chan said the organization plans to build a permanent Olympics and Olympic Equestrian Museum to commemorate Hong Kong's participation in the Games.