Celebration to mark 62nd National Day
*************************************

     A series of celebration activities will be held in Hong Kong on October 1 (Saturday) to mark the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

     Major activities include a flag-raising ceremony and a National Day reception in the morning, as well as a variety show and a fireworks display in the evening.

     The flag-raising ceremony will be held at 8am at the Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai.

     The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, will join some 2 400 people at the ceremony. They include invited guests, senior government officials, and members of youth uniformed groups and community groups.

     The police band and a school mixed voice choir will play and sing the national anthem at the ceremony, followed by a sea parade and a fly-past by the disciplined forces, including the Hong Kong Police Force, Correctional Services Department, Fire Services Department, Customs & Excise Department, Immigration Department and Government Flying Service.

     The public are welcome to watch the ceremony at a designated area with a capacity of about 1 000 viewers. To ensure the smooth running of the flag-raising ceremony, people at the designated area have to observe the regulations and directions given by the authorities on site.

     Hosted by the Chief Executive, the National Day reception will be held after the flag-raising ceremony at the Grand Hall of HKCEC. About 4 000 invited guests will attend, including members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, consular corps, senior government officials, community group leaders and members of various community sectors.

     In addition to the police band and the mixed voice school choir who will play and sing the national anthem, the Hong Kong Young Chinese Orchestra Zheng Ensemble and the Hong Kong Dance Federation will give music and dancing performances at the reception.

     In the evening, the Organising Committee of Compatriots in Hong Kong for Celebration of the 62nd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China will present a variety show at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom at 7pm.

     A spectacular fireworks display, sponsored by the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations, will start at 9pm to celebrate the National Day. It will last about 23 minutes.

     People planning to watch the fireworks display on either side of the harbour are requested to behave in a safe and orderly manner and follow the advice of police officers. They should also pay attention to the special traffic arrangements for the National Day celebration activities announced by the authorities.

Ends/Thursday, September 29, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:26

NNNN