A woman takes a photo of three children standing on the podium marked with the logo of the HKSAR's 25th anniversary, June 30, 2022. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)
Streets festooned with national flags and posters, buses and trams draped with large banners with slogans celebrating Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, boats in the harbor adorned with national flags and slogans – all herald a special festive occasion. It has been 25 years since the founding of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the journey has been a rewarding one.
As a festive mood sweeps the city, residents spoke of how happy they are that Hong Kong keeps marching on the path of prosperity and progress since it returned to the motherland in1997.
“Today, no-one is prouder than me that we are treading this path of walking hand-in-hand with the motherland, which offers plenty of opportunities to the city,” Yuen, driver of a tram that displays a large banner celebrating the 25th anniversary, told China Daily at Shek Tong Tsui on Hong Kong Island.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, the man in his 50s thinks Hong Kong’s integration with the nation can only bring positive results for the residents.
In the run up to the July 1 anniversary, photos of many city points and residential blocks adorned with national and Hong Kong regional flags flooded social media platforms. People taking selfies with proud faces shared those with friends and family members.
In the run up to the July 1 anniversary, photos of many city points and residential blocks adorned with national and Hong Kong regional flags flooded social media platforms. People taking selfies with proud faces shared those with friends and family members
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“For me, it is like creating special memories on a special occasion,” a young mother, who took her two-year-old son, told a TV channel while visiting a flower-themed installation set up on a footbridge in Sham Shui Po on Wednesday.
The city’s 25-year journey has been an enduring one, but resilient. And all through it, Hong Kong remained dynamic and vibrant. It had its ups and downs. But every time it emerged stronger. Hence the banners pasted on large roadside billboards hence declare a "new era" of stability.
“On July 1, I’m going out with my eldest son’s family to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland,” a 69-year-old retiree who lives in Ho Man Tin. The day is a special one for her and she feels “the need to mark this day with my family”.
“We’ll probably be going to some celebratory hotspots, which will be decided by my son, who’s gonna take me to places.”
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Dr Jiang Wanyue, 35, a Yuen Long resident who works as a senior executive in the wealth management industry, told China Daily that she came to Hong Kong in 2007 from the Chinese mainland. “In the past 15 years, I developed my business team from scratch. Hong Kong has given me precious opportunities to grow. It is getting better and better, and so am I.”
A man tours an exhibition to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to its motherland, in Hong Kong on June 24, 2022. (KIN CHEUNG / AP)
Her daughter attends a school in Hong Kong, she said, adding: “I participated in a poster design event organized by the school to celebrate July 1 to express my affection for the country and the HKSAR.”
“Hong Kong has benefited from the rapid development of the motherland, so, it should be more actively integrated into the Greater Bay Area…The central government will further bring more opportunities to Hong Kong, and we must make good use of these policy supports.”
For Ms Yang, a 25-year-old researcher living in Hung Hom, stability is crucial. “Since the enactment of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, my life here has become safer, and I feel more at ease,” she said.
Tough COVID-19 has hit everyone hard, people in Hong Kong are strictly adhering to virus prevention measures such as wearing face masks. “Overall, I am very hopeful about my future life in Hong Kong,” she said.
The national flags and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flags are hoisted in Lei Yue Mun, Hong Kong on June 30, 2022. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)
With all the celebratory activities around, the city seems to be vibrating with enthusiasm and joy.
“All these decorations such as national flags, Hong Kong flags and banners on the streets give you a feeling of festivity. Hong Kong really continues to flourish,” Wong, 54, a financial practitioner, told China Daily on a Wan Chai street.
She said she will watch the flag raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square on television on July 1, as there will be no public viewing area for the event this time. “On the same day, I plan to attend an anniversary celebration concert to appreciate the charm of symphony.”
Delighted to see the SAR’s integration into the mainland’s overall development, she said the city’s fate is intertwined with that of the motherland.
Lanterns are hung up along a footbridge in Hong Kong, June 28, 2022. (PHOTO/XINHUA)
In Mui Wo on Lantau island, the streets have also been adorned with flags and posters celebrating the anniversary, said Belinda, a Filipino woman who has been a resident of Hong Kong for 29 years.
“My driving tutor is very patriotic. He is a local and influenced me to be so proud about what Hong Kong has achieved all these years,” Belinda said, adding that she will check out the activities of her local community on Friday.
Security at venues of festivities and their surrounding areas has been beefed up to ensure the safety of President Xi Jinping and other guests. “Police will take appropriate measures to ensure the entire security operation be conducted in a safe and orderly manner," a police spokesman said.
The measures may lead to road closures, and temporary traffic and pedestrian diversions. The traffic conditions of Admiralty and Wan Chai North might be affected, the spokesman said, urging motorists to avoid those areas.
A man poses for a photograph next to a banner to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to its motherland, in Hong Kong on June 22, 2022. (KIN CHEUNG / AP)
This picture taken in Hong Kong on June 29, 2022 shows buildings displaying slogans as people visit a public pier next to Victoria Harbour ahead of the 25th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. (DALE DE LA REY / AFP)
This picture taken in Hong Kong on June 29, 2022 shows buildings displaying slogans as people visit a public pier next to Victoria Harbour ahead of the 25th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. (DALE DE LA REY / AFP)
A resident watches the harbor light show "A Symphony of Lights" at Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui with buildings displaying slogans celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on June 28, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Buildings along Victoria Harbour display slogans celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on June 28, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Buildings along Victoria Harbour display slogans celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on June 28, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
Buildings along Victoria Harbour display slogans celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on June 28, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
*Shamim Ashraf, Corrine Sun, Barnet Siu, Philip Tubeza and Danny Xu contributed to this report