71.   Hundreds of thousands of people attended celebrations in China on Sunday to mark the one year countdown for the return of Hong Kong from British rule.

72.   Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri attended the celebrations, in what Downer said was a great act of statesmanship.

73.   But for the first time the authorities seem to have avoided asking any foreign dignitaries to attend the celebrations.

74.   But hundreds of thousands of people attended celebrations across the border to mark the one year countdown, Xinhua news agency reported.

75.   But one of those attending the celebrations in a purely personal capacity would be the head of the Bundesbank, Ernst Welteke, Thin said.

76.   Chinese President Jiang Zemin is due to attend the celebrations.

77.   Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived in Hong Kong Sunday to attend celebrations marking five years of Chinese rule since the end of the British colonial era, officials said.

78.   Earlier, the president travelled to Colorado to attend celebrations for King.

79.   The opposition leader was also kept from attending New Year celebrations.

80.   The visit was the first time a Turkish prime minister attended Newroz celebrations which had previously been considered mainly as a Kurdish feast.