BBC News | Asia-Pacific | Tonga edges ahead in 2000 race


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Thursday, August 19, 1999 Published at 15:21 GMT 16:21 UK

World: Asia-Pacific

Tonga edges ahead in 2000 race

Tonga has announced plans to introduce an hour of Daylight Saving Time at the end of the year, making it likely to be the first country to see in the new millennium.

The regional Pacnews agency said Daylight Saving would run from November this year to February next, putting the kingdom 14 hours ahead of GMT.

Both Fiji and Tonga will be on same time, but as Tonga is nearer the international date line than its neighbour, it can now offer people the chance to be first to witness the dawn of the new millennium.

The race to be first has been hotting up since last year.

The king is backing the move

Tonga has, in effect, followed the example of Fiji, which last October got its nose in front when it too introduced Daylight Saving.

Many were sceptical of the Fiji Government's denial that the move was a way of attracting tourists wishing to witness the historic dawn.

Tongan King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV has long let it be known that he would follow suit in an attempt to fend off Fiji and New Zealand's attempts to pip Tonga to the post.

The kingdom's official website has as its banner headline: "The millennium starts with us".

Travel company advertisements, too, can be found trying to entice millennium tourists who are prepared to go to the ends of the Earth.

One such Internet advertisement is trying to woo the better-heeled client with offers of all-inclusive luxury deals for Australian and US citizens.