Hong Kong's victory in the fight against SARS has been selected the top news item in a readership survey of the 10 most important government policy events last year.

Survey organizers, which include China Daily Hong Kong Edition, yesterday chose 250 winners from nearly 60,000 participants through lots drawing. The number represents a 40 per cent increase in participants over the previous year.

This indicates that the survey, which started in 1998, has become increasingly popular among Hong Kong citizens, said organizers.

The selection process started on December 22 and concluded on January 20. A prize presentation ceremony will be held later this month.

The following is a list of the top ten events and the number of votes they received:

1. Hong Kong's victory in the fight against SARS (53,026)

2. Government decision to shelve Article 23 legislation (49,921)

3. Visit to Hong Kong by China's first astronaut Yang Liwei (46,127)

4. The resignations of former secretary for security Regina Ip and financial secretary Antony Leung (43,874)

5. The lifting of a ban on mainlanders to visit Hong Kong individually (40,629)

6. Negotiations between the government and universities on a cut in education funding (39,107)

7. Realization of round-the-clock border crossings between Hong Kong and Shenzhen (36,581)

8. Legalization of soccer betting (35,006)

9. The signing of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between Hong Kong and the mainland (3,2513)

10. High turnout in the District Councils elections. (30,026)

(HK Edition 02/05/2004 page2)