A 287-strong delegation led by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying heads to Beijing today to attend commemorative activities of the 70th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to be held on Thursday.

The events include a memorial rally and military parade in the morning and a gala in the evening. The CE will also attend a reception at noon.

Among those invited are Hong Kong government officials, lawmakers, business leaders, moderate "pan-democrats" and anti-"Occupy Central" activists.

Former Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, who did not appear at this year's annual reunification anniversary ceremony on July 1, was also on the list. He will join the spectators along with his wife Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei.

Three "pan-democratic" politicians are invited, including Ronny Tong Ka-wah, who earlier quit the Civic Party and resigned from the Legislative Council, health service sector lawmaker Joseph Lee Kok-long and Democratic Party veteran Tik Chi-yuen.

Among the pro-establishment camp, the Liberal Party's James Tien Pei-chun, whose membership of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was terminated last year, will still attend the parade.

Some figures that played important roles in the fight against last year's illegal "Occupy Central" movement will also appear on the viewing stands at Tiananmen Square. This includes convener of local concern group Silent Majority for Hong Kong Robert Chow Yung and retired police chief Andy Tsang Wai-hung.

Vice-Chancellors of the city's universities will also appear in the crowd, including Chinese University of Hong Kong's Joseph Sung Jao-yiu, Hong Kong Baptist University's Roland Chin Tai-hong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Tony Chan Fan-cheong, City University of Hong Kong's Kuo Way and Lingnan University's Leonard Cheng Kwok-hon.

University of Hong Kong Vice-Chancellor Peter Mathieson is not on the list as he has to deal with one of the school's crises - the delayed appointment of a pro-vice-chancellor.

Also on the list are Richard Li Tzar-kai, son of tycoon Li Ka-shing, Sun Hung Kai Properties Chairman Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, Galaxy Entertainment Chairman Lui Che-woo and Sino Group Executive Director Daryl Ng Win-kong.

The delegation will return to Hong Kong on Friday. While Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is in Beijing, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah will be acting CE.

Meanwhile, an official ceremony will also be held in Hong Kong on Thursday morning at the City Hall Memorial Garden. About 700 people, including judicial representatives, executive councilors, lawmakers, war veterans, uniformed groups and students will attend the ceremony.

(HK Edition 09/02/2015 page7)