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A flag raising ceremony was held this morning (July 1) at the Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to mark the fifth anniversary of the reunification and the establishment of the HKSAR.
The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee-hwa and some 800 guests watched the ceremony comprising flag raising parade, sea parade and a fly-past.
The ceremony began promptly at 8 am with the Flag Raising Parade at the twin flagpoles at Golden Bauhinia Square. The flag party, provided by the Hong Kong Police Force comprised a Senior Inspector of Police, four flag raisers and 12 rifle escorts.
Escorting the flag party was the guard of honour comprised of five disciplined services contingents namely the Hong Kong Police Force, Correctional Services Department, Fire Services Department, Customs and Excise Department and Immigration Department.
As both the National flag and the HKSAR flag reached the pinnacle of the flagpoles, a sea parade led by a police launch, sailed past the Golden Bauhinia Square. At the same time, two launches of the Fire Services Department carried out water-jet displays.
Overhead, a fly past of five helicopters was conducted by the Government Flying Services. A black hawk, carrying the National Flag led the formation, followed by a second black hawk carrying the HKSAR flag, two S76 and one Super Puma helicopters spaced out in a rectangular pattern.
About an hour later inside the Grand Hall of the Convention and Exhibition Centre, some 2,000 guests witnessed Mr Tung Chee-hwa taking his oath as the Second Term Chief Executive of the HKSAR at an inauguration ceremony presided by President Jiang Zemin.
This was followed by the oath taking of the newly appointed Principal Officials of the Government of the HKSAR, which was also administered by the President.
The newly sworn Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee-hwa then administered the oath taking of Members of the Executive Council.
The guests included members of the Executive Council and Legislative Council, senior officials of Chinese organisations and enterprises in Hong Kong, consular corps, heads of missions in Hong Kong, senior Government officials, district personalities and other prominent members of the community.
At the conclusion of the inaugural ceremony, a 40-minute cultural programme was held featuring performances by internationally acclaimed pianist Mr Li Yundi as well as violinist Mr Li Chuanyun accompanied by Ms Nancy Loo. There will also be choral music by the Mixed Choir of Diocesan Girls' School and Diocesan Boys' School, and tap dance by students of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Tonight, a 23-minute fireworks will light up the skyline at Victoria Harbour at 8 pm, which will be broadcast live on television.
End/Monday, July 1, 2002
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Photo 1 : This impressive sight of a scychornised fly past, water-jet spray by two fireboats and the fluttering of the National Flag and the HKSAR flag, heralds the celebration to mark the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR and signifies the start of the second term of the Government of the HKSAR.
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2: President Jiang swears in Mr Tung.
