The flame-lighting ceremony of the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) was held in Nansha, Guangzhou, today (October 9). The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, lit the flame of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), while the Vice President and Secretary-General of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG and Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, represented the HKSAR to receive the flame of the Games.
 
     Staged at a port in Nansha, Guangzhou, the flame-lighting ceremony was officiated by the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Huang Kunming; the President of the Organising Committee of the 15th NG and Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, Mr Gao Zhidan; the Executive President of the Organising Committee of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG and Director of the Executive Council of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Mr Zhou Changkui; the Executive President of the Organising Committees of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG and Chief Executive of the Hong Kong HKSAR Government, Mr Lee; the Executive President of the Organising Committees of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG and Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Mr Sam Hou-fai; and the Executive President of the Organising Committees of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Meng Fanli. All officiating guests received the torches and lit the flame of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG together. Subsequently, representatives of the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao received the flames.

     Also attending the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum, and the Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong), Mr Yeung Tak-keung.

     The "source flame" of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG was extracted and ignited from combustible ice and associated gas collected earlier by the Haima, a remotely operated underwater vehicle, from the northern South China Sea, via electricity generated from solar power to achieve deep-sea ignition. Upon completion of the ceremony, torch relays for the 15th NG will be held in Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen next month.
 
     The flame lantern of the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, which is called "Starfire Building Dreams", has three pillars inside representing Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Named "Blossom", the torch embodies the core design philosophy of "fusion" and "glory". On the one hand, the torch symbolises "exchange and integration", demonstrating the special Lingnan culture of "three places, one family" and "same roots, same blood connections", on the other hand, it signifies "shared prosperity" and manifests the development path of unity and collaboration of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao under the advantages of the principle of "one country, two systems". For the flame cauldron, its name is "Ding Sheng Tong Xin".

     For more information on the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in Hong Kong, please visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/index.html), as well the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk).

Ends/Thursday, October 9, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:15

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