Hong Kong will kick off its annual celebration of National Day on Friday with activities that include a top-level flag-raising ceremony, and visits by officials to grassroots constituents.
Continuing a long-standing tradition, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and other senior government officials will attend a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre at 8 am, followed by a National Day reception at the Grand Hall of the center in Wan Chai to celebrate the 72nd founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
Flag-raising ceremonies will also be held at the central government offices in Hong Kong, including the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, and the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong
During the ceremony, two singers — Frankie Liu and Colette Lam Wing-wing — will sing the national anthem along with the police band’s performance. Then a flyby and a sea parade by the disciplined services will pay their tributes.
No public viewing area was set due to the public health risks posed by the pandemic.
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Meanwhile, flag-raising ceremonies will also be held at the central government offices in Hong Kong, including the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, and the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong.
In the evening, Lam and the leaders of the central government offices will attend a high-level gala performance at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom.
About 4,800 tickets, or 80 percent of the seats, have been handed out to local residents via various groups. The show will be streamed online.
Since late September, celebrations of various forms on National Day have been held in various sectors in Hong Kong, including the business sector, civil service groups, and the media industry.
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In the following days, many more visits to those in the grassroots have been arranged by various groups. Some will visit the cross-border van drivers, and some plan to visit youngsters living in poverty.