HONG KONG: Urgent legislation prohibiting the use of melamine in food products has been judged by the people of Hong Kong the top event of 2008, according to a poll conducted by local media.

Hong Kong's successful staging of the Beijing Olympics equestrian events and the chief executive's measures to confront the global economic downturn placed second and third.

Almost 130,000 ballots were cast in the public opinion survey. The legislation prohibiting melamine in food products earned 66,553 votes as the most important development of the year.

Melamine added to imported dairy products resulted in 13 local cases of children suffering kidney stones last Sept.

Close behind in the balloting was the city's historic co-host role in staging equestrian events for the 2008 Olympic Games, (65,255 votes).

Next, with 62,497 votes, were government measures enacted to combat the financial turmoil.

Coming fourth was the government's coordination of efforts to address the Lehman Brothers minibond saga, which earned 61,138 votes.

The collapse of the United States-based investment bank Lehman Brothers may have cost some 43,000 Hong Kong residents in the neighborhood of more than HK$15 billion in investment losses.

The poll organizer said most of the 10 events selected by voters were related to issues affecting livelihood. Analysis of the results shows government emphasis on livelihood policies accords with public expectation.

Rounding out the top 10 were the enhancement of the Old Age Allowance to HK$1000 monthly (59,474); the government's HK$1-billion compensation package for live-poultry traders who agreed voluntarily to close their businesses (53,128); the creation of a government fund to assist in the reconstruction of earthquake-stricken Sichuan (51,643); the amendment of the medium-of-instruction policy in schools (48,961); the relief package offered by the government amid the economic upheaval (48,678); and healthcare reform (40,290).

Organized by Wen Wei Po and 23 other media including China Daily Hong Kong Edition, the poll was taken over the last month. Each voter was asked to choose the 10 most important events from a list of 20.

Over 200 prizes were awarded at a draw yesterday. The awards will be presented to the lucky survey participants on February 12.

(HK Edition 01/23/2009 page1)