Hong Kong holds flag-raising ceremony to celebrate National Day

China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held a flag-raising ceremony on the National Day, which falls on Wednesday this year, to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, heads of central government institutions in the HKSAR, and representatives from all walks of life in Hong Kong attended the ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square.

The ceremony began at 08:00, with the Chinese national flag and the flag of the HKSAR rising slowly to the strains of China's national anthem, "March of the Volunteers."

During the ceremony, helicopters carrying the Chinese national flag and the HKSAR flag conducted a fly-past over the Victoria Harbor.

Hong Kong holds flag-raising ceremony to celebrate National Day

Hong Kong holds flag-raising ceremony to celebrate National Day

Oil prices fell on Thursday.

The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery dropped 2.83 U.S. dollars, or 4.56 percent, to settle at 59.19 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery lost 2.76 dollars, or 4.15 percent, to settle at 63.76 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

Crude futures settle lower