Nearly 134,000 Hong Kong voters have chosen the top stories involving the city's administration in 2012.

Heading the list was the decision to ban non-local expectant mothers from having their babies at Hong Kong hospitals. Second was the government's effective response to the fatal collision at sea off Lamma Island on October 1. Voters chose the resolution of the controversy over moral and national education as the third most important government related story of 2012.

The Vote for the Hong Kong Government's 10 Most Significant Events of 2012, released on Tuesday, was organized by 31 local media agencies and organizations, including China Daily Hong Kong Edition and Wen Wei Po. The 133,566 votes represented a 10 percent increase over last year.

"SAR government made accurate and active responses to the calls of the society when encountering emergency and controversial issues as well as upholding Hong Kong's core values. Bearing the long-term benefits of the city in mind, the government's timely and appropriate resolution and handling of the issues is the reason why the events are of the most concern by the public," said Xu Ke, deputy editor-in-chief of Wen Wei Po.

In April last year, the government introduced a ban on admission of non-resident mothers-to-be at the city's private and public hospitals. The decision was made in response to widespread concern among local residents that obstetrics and maternity care facilities were being severely overtaxed by non residents. Other measures, including the arrest of illegal intermediaries or agents who helped mainland woman gain admission to local hospitals, followed.

The collision of two passenger vessels off Lamma Island on October 1 claimed 39 lives. Still the government's effective response earned recognition of 70 percent of voters. One of the vessels, the Lamma IV, with more than 120 people on board was headed for Victoria Harbour so that passengers who had attended a company outing could watch the National Day fireworks. The Lamma IV was fatally holed and quickly sank. The government offered subsidies to the families of victims and established a commission of inquiry to investigate.

Coming third was the government's compromise plan that headed off a prickly controversy over the introduction of Moral and National Education in schools. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's inauguration and the appointment of the new administration team were awarded fourth place.

A high level of attention lingered on the issues involving quality of life and living standards and other concerns affecting the public interest.

The cross-border collaboration to halt the activities of parallel traders and the freeze on the multiple entry permit for non-permanent residents of Shenzhen also made the list.

Other events achieving recognition included progress in handling the long-standing issue of unauthorized building works and measures to cool the over-heated housing market in the city.

stushadow@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 01/23/2013 page1)