Hong Kong holds flag-raising ceremony to mark 75th founding anniversary of PRC

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held a flag-raising ceremony and a reception on Tuesday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

China's national flag and the HKSAR flag were hoisted and the national anthem was played at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on Tuesday morning, followed by a fly-past and a sea parade at Victoria Harbor by the disciplined services.

Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and personages from various sectors of Hong Kong attended the ceremony.

After the ceremony, the attendees headed for the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center to join the National Day reception.

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, the national security office of the central government in the HKSAR, the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR and the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) also held national flag-raising ceremonies, respectively, on Tuesday morning.

Hong Kong holds flag-raising ceremony to mark 75th founding anniversary of PRC

Hong Kong holds flag-raising ceremony to mark 75th founding anniversary of PRC

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that the European Union stands in full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark, stressing that their sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.

In a special address at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, von der Leyen said the EU is preparing an Arctic security support package built on five pillars, including stepped-up investment in Greenland's economy and infrastructure and increased defense spending on European icebreaker capability.

Full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark is the first principle, and the sovereignty and integrity of their territory is non-negotiable, she noted.

Von der Leyen said the EU also plans to channel a major European investment push into Greenland to support the local economy and infrastructure, while using the bloc's defense spending increase to bolster European icebreaker capability and other equipment seen as vital to Arctic security.

She said Europe must adjust to a "new security architecture and realities" and is preparing its own security strategy, including an upgraded Arctic strategy, to be published later this year.

"And at the heart of this will be the fundamental principle: It is for sovereign people to decide their own future," she said.

Sovereignty, integrity of Greenland, Denmark's territory "non-negotiable": Ursula von der Leyen