Hong Kong marked the 29th anniversary of its return to the motherland on July 1, 2026, with a flag-raising ceremony and commemorative events.
Hong Kong marked the 29th anniversary of its return to the motherland on July 1st. A flag-raising ceremony and a reception were held to celebrate the occasion.
The flag-raising ceremony was held at Golden Bauhinia Square, where the national flag of the People’s Republic of China and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) were raised. A helicopter flyover displaying the two flags and a water salute by a fireboat were part of the ceremony.
Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, and Zhou Ji, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, attended the ceremony.
A reception was later held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. During the event, Hong Kong’s first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, delivered a video message from China’s Tiangong space station, expressing her best wishes for Hong Kong and the country.
In his remarks, Lee said the HKSAR government is formulating Hong Kong’s first five-year development plan. A public consultation has already begun. He said Hong Kong will continue to capitalise on opportunities arising from national development. He added that the city will further strengthen its role as a bridge between the Chinese mainland and the world.
Additional reporting by Xinhua, China Daily.
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