This year’s July 1st marked the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government held various events to celebrate the remarkable achievements made over the past 28 years, while also expressing the hope of”soaring like a butterfly,” seizing opportunities domestically and internationally to achieve further brilliance.
Ensure the national flag and regional flag fluttering behind are included in the photograph.
On July 1st, a reporter from the Global Times encountered Ms. Zhao and her family of five from Sichuan at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. They were holding the national flag and the regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, taking commemorative photos in front of the large Bauhinia sculpture. They specifically instructed the person taking the picture to ensure both the national flag and the regional flag, which were waving in the background, were included in the shot. “We’ve brought the children to Hong Kong for a summer holiday, and it just so happens to coincide with the July 1st anniversary. We’re celebrating Hong Kong’s return to the motherland with our fellow Hong Kong citizens,” Ms. Zhao told the reporter. Having been in Hong Kong for two days, she expressed her appreciation for the city’s vibrancy and the friendliness of its people, stating that she loves the city very much and wishes Hong Kong continued prosperity.
Prior to the Zhao family’s commemorative photo at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai on July 1st, a flag-raising ceremony was held by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government in the morning, followed by a celebratory reception at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Attendees included the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee Ka-chiu, and senior HKSAR government officials, as well as former Chief Executives Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Leung Chun-ying. Representatives from central government institutions in Hong Kong were also present, including the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Luo Huining, and the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Liu Guangyuan.
Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily reported on July 1st that at the flag-raising ceremony, the police silver band played; the flag-raising team and honor guard marched in with Chinese-style steps; several helicopters from the Government Flying Service flew over Victoria Harbour, carrying the national and regional flags; and fireboats and marine police launches sprayed water in tribute. Hong Kong media noted that singer Faye Wong’s song”As You Wish” (??) was played before the flag raising. This song was the theme song for the 2021 film”My Fathers and Me” (??????), a celebratory film for the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. The lyrics poetically recount the story of four generations of a family, expressing the sacrifices of previous generations, the happiness of the younger generation, and the growing strength of the nation.
The reception followed, featuring a performance by the Hong Kong Young Strings Orchestra and others. Their rendition of rearranged classic melodies, including”Golden Snake Dance” and”Across Thousands of Mountains and Rivers,” reflected the younger generation’s patriotism and the resilient spirit of Hong Kong people, adding a celebratory atmosphere to the commemorative day. In his address at the reception, Chief Executive John Lee noted that the current administration had completed the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, restoring a safe Hong Kong, while simultaneously developing the economy and improving people’s livelihoods, with tangible results already emerging.
John Lee also stated, “Since this administration assumed office, Hong Kong’s economy has transitioned from negative to positive growth, with median household income increasing by HK$3,000.” The Special Administrative Region government attaches great importance to labor rights and has changed the minimum wage review from biennial to annual. He said that Hong Kong is currently undergoing economic transformation, and under’One Country, Two Systems,’opportunities outweigh challenges. The main tasks ahead are threefold: safeguarding high-quality development with high-level security; striving for economic growth and development; and deepening international exchanges and cooperation; accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis; and continuously improving people’s livelihood in areas such as housing, healthcare, and education.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Lee Ka-chiu quoted the Qing Dynasty writer Peng Duanshu’s”A Poem on Learning for My Sons and Nephews,” stating, “Are there things in the world that are difficult or easy? If one does them, even difficult things become easy; if one does not do them, even easy things become difficult.” He expressed that he would rather be a reformer who undertakes difficult tasks than a stagnant person who enjoys comfort. With the increasing geopolitical uncertainties, he asserted that Hong Kong can offer the world certainty in security and development.
Earlier, John Lee uploaded a video to social media, titled”Metamorphosis,” sharing the governing philosophy and achievements of the current HKSAR government in its first three years in office. The video is divided into two parts, respectively titled”Metamorphosis: Taking Flight” and”Soaring High: Reaching New Heights.” The video cleverly uses the”cocoon” as a metaphor for the difficulties and challenges faced by Hong Kong, and the”butterfly” to represent the tremendous transformation of Hong Kong towards a new beginning.
“I hope children can feel proud to be Chinese.”
On this special day, a festive atmosphere permeates the streets and alleys of Hong Kong, with national and regional flags waving in the breeze, and elaborately designed thematic installations attracting large numbers of citizens and tourists to stop and take photos. A Global Times reporter’s visit revealed that this year’s”Victoria Park Celebrating the Return” exhibition’s featured”Adorable Pandas” sculptures are extremely popular. On a large circular artificial lawn, a two-meter-tall giant panda sculpture sits in the center, surrounded by approximately 100 smaller panda sculptures of varying poses and endearing expressions, captivating citizens and particularly children. In front of a panda sculpture depicted as”sitting and eating bamboo,” Hong Kong resident Ms. Qin is inviting her five-year-old twin daughters to sit for a photograph. Ms. Qin told the reporter that her daughters adore pandas and understand that they are a national treasure of China. She expressed her belief that both the country and Hong Kong will continue to prosper, and hopes her children will feel proud to be Chinese and experience joy and happiness living in Hong Kong.
According to Hong Kong’s Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po websites, July 1st, 2024, to celebrate the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, 500 celebratory events were held across all 18 districts of Hong Kong. Among these, eight trade associations in the food and beverage industry jointly organized celebratory return anniversary discount promotions, with over 4,000 restaurants, hotels, and retail stores participating across Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Retail Management Association held its third annual Hong Kong Happy Shopping Festival from July 1st to August 31st, involving over 180 brands and 5,000 stores across Hong Kong, offering discounts totaling over HK$1.9 billion to residents and visitors. Many businesses responded to the silver hair economy by introducing measures to benefit the elderly.
The Pearl of the Orient shines even brighter
The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Chan Kwok-ki, stated that witnessing the festive cheer and joyous leisure of citizens across Hong Kong evoked reflections on the extraordinary journey of the past 28 years. He noted that under the guidance and support of the nation, the leadership of the Chief Executive, and the collective efforts of all citizens, Hong Kong has overcome numerous challenges and weathered storms. He emphasized that during this period of over a quarter of a century, Hong Kong has faced internal challenges such as the damage inflicted by the‘Black Terror’and external pressures from international geopolitical competition and economic fluctuations, rendering every step of its development particularly arduous. He highlighted that the greatest support has been the robust vitality of the‘One Country, Two Systems’principle and the unwavering determination of the nation in safeguarding Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. The Hong Kong National Security Law has secured the foundation of national security, bringing peace to Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Economic Journal reported on July 1 that the SAR government also announced the 2025 list of awards and appointments of Justices of the Peace, with the Chief Executive awarding 427 honors and commendations this year. Three people received the highest honor, the Grand Bauhinia Medal, including Mr. Fung Sau-por, Chairman and Founder of Hong Kong Economic Journal Group; Mr. Yeung Chiu, Honorary Permanent President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce; and Professor Liang Chi-in, Emeritus Professor of HKU.
On the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, good news abounds: Hong Kong has once again been ranked as the”world’s freest economy”; its position as an international financial center remains firmly in third place globally, and its global competitiveness has also risen to third place; the headquarters of the International Arbitration Institute has been established in Hong Kong. Following the successful recovery from the pandemic in 2023, Hong Kong’s gross domestic product has maintained growth for nine consecutive quarters, exceeding HKD 3 trillion for the whole of 2024. Year-to-date, the Hang Seng Index has led global gains, and Hong Kong’s IPO fundraising has surpassed HKD 90 billion, ranking first in the world. These achievements vividly illustrate Hong Kong’s burgeoning vitality and reflect the widespread international recognition of Hong Kong’s stability, freedom, and prosperity.
According to Chen Zhihao, Chief Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Youth Current Affairs Commentators Association, in an interview with the Global Times, Hong Kong has not only maintained its existing strengths but also cultivated new growth points and advantages over the past 28 years since its return to the motherland, making the”Oriental Pearl” shine even brighter.
Lin Zhiying, a National People’s Congress (NPC) deputy representing Hong Kong, stated that the extraordinary 28-year journey since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, particularly its recent remarkable transformation from chaos to governance and then to prosperity under the firm support of the central government, irrefutably demonstrates the strong vitality and bright prospects of”One Country, Two Systems.” Legislator Leung Hei indicated that recent data reflects Hong Kong’s increasingly positive development, effectively refuting Western smear campaigns against national security legislation. Legislator Shang Hailong noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has achieved significant accomplishments over the past 28 years, despite facing challenges. He emphasized the need to avoid complacency, address existing issues head-on, and strive for transformation and prosperity by fostering unity and collective strength.
A commentary published in Hong Kong’s Sing Pao Daily News uses the metaphor of”breaking free from the cocoon” to describe Hong Kong’s transformation over the past three years, suggesting that Chief Executive John Lee understands the difficulties involved in overcoming obstacles and challenges. However, the article points out that emerging from the cocoon is not easy, and soaring to new heights is even more challenging. It argues that building a strong foundation for takeoff, developing powerful capabilities, and understanding favorable conditions are essential for achieving significant progress and long-term success.