Hong Kong witnessed a series of celebrations on Oct 1 to mark the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Launching the National Day celebration was the flag-raising ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai on Monday morning attended by community leaders, senior government officials, members of uniformed groups and community organizations.

After the ceremony, a National Day reception was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, hosted by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

About 4,000 invited guests attended, including members of the executive and legislative councils, the consular corps, government officials, community group leaders and members from various community sectors.

Addressing the annual event, the CE said the Hong Kong SAR should continue to integrate into national development while upholding the country's sovereignty, security and development interests.

The People's Liberation Army Garrison in Hong Kong also held a flag-raising ceremony in the early morning of the National Day. More than 200 guests and eight township residents from Yuen Long district attended the ceremony.

After the ceremony, residents were invited to the complex's auditorium to watch a short film, New Era, New Journey, about the garrison - providing a fresh look at soldiers in Hong Kong.

In the evening, a themed variety show at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom was presented by the city's leading National Day celebration organizer - the Organizing Committee of Compatriots in Hong Kong in Celebration of the 69th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. The committee, with more than 700 people from various community sectors, was founded in July. Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa is the executive chairman of the committee.

Victoria Habour also witnessed a spectacular fireworks display. Lasting 23 minutes, this year's National Day fireworks display, with the theme of "unity and harmony", had a total of eight scenes with eight different types of background music.

The fireworks display featured 31,888 firework flares from four pontoons, creating a 1,000-meter high and 300-meter wide screen over Victoria Harbour.

In terms of new technology, it is the first time the effect of "smiling face" and "love" was shown inside the ball-shaped fireworks. The fireworks show was supported by a pop song My Dream by mainland singer Zhang Liangying; this song has the theme the "Chinese dream". The message is that everyone has dreams in their hearts. With a "smiling face" and "love", Hong Kong people are encouraged to pursue their own dreams, the organizer said.

Today (Tuesday) evening, a themed youth concert will be shown at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom.

Yang Zekun contributed to the story.

From left: At the open day of the People’s Liberation Army Shek Kong barracks in Hong Kong, a young boy tries to look through the sights of a gun; a girl holding the national and Hong Kong flags poses in front of a helicopter; a soldier adjusts the national flag during a flag-raising ceremony. photos by Roy Liu / China Daily

Thousands of people packed vantage points on both sides of Victoria Harbour on Monday evening for a spectacular fireworks display to celebrate National Day. Roy Liu / China Daily

Above: Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (fifth left) proposes a toast with Leung Chun-ying (fourth left), vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Wang Zhimin (third left), director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and other guests at a reception held in celebration of the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Grand Hall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday. Left: A flag-raising ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China is held at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai. photos provided to China Daily

(HK Edition 10/02/2018 page4)