"Salute to the National Flag" Team Attends Flag-Raising Ceremony at Tiananmen Square, Strengthening National Pride

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation attends flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation attended the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square this morning (September 20). They were led by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and various guests. Participants deeply experienced a sense of belonging to the country and national pride.

During today's flag-raising ceremony, the national flag rose slowly in the morning sun amidst a solemn atmosphere. Over 1 300 primary and secondary school teachers and students, tertiary students from Hong Kong and Macao, as well as representatives from the Association of Hong Kong Flag-guards and the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association, together with other participants, witnessed this solemn moment.

Dr Choi said that patriotic education is never an abstract concept, but requires personal experience and heartfelt appreciation. This "Salute to the National Flag" Beijing delegation embodies the concept of a"walking classroom", enabling students to step beyond their textbooks and experience the capital firsthand.

She said, "This morning's activity not only allowed students to directly feel the solemn atmosphere of the flag-raising ceremony, but also prompted them to reflect on the historical significance behind the national flag, deepening their identification with the country and the nation. Through this high-level key youth exchange programme, they have built a profound sense of national identity from the bottom of their hearts."

The delegation's programme today also included visits to primary and secondary sister schools in Beijing, as well as Peking University and Tsinghua University, allowing the teachers and students in the delegation to interact face-to-face with their counterparts on the Mainlandand learn more about campus life, learning philosophies, and youth aspirations in both places.

Dr Choi participated in the visits to Peking University and Tsinghua University, and met with the Secretaries of the CPC Committees of the two universities, Mr He Guangcai and Professor Qiu Yong respectively. She noted that Hong Kong is striving to build an international university town integrating talent cultivation, scientific research, transformation of outcomes, and industry development, and looks forward to the presence of prestigious universities from home and abroad which would help pool together top-tier global talent and inject momentum into Hong Kong's development as an international education hub.

Yesterday (September 19), Dr Choi visited Tianjin and met with Vice Mayor of Tianjin Mr Zhai Lixin to exchange views on further deepening educational co-operation between the two places. They also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on educational co-operation between the Education Bureau of Hong Kong and the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission. The MOU aims to further strengthen educational exchanges and co-operation between Tianjin and Hong Kong, give full play to the educational strengths of both places, and promote resource sharing and complementary advantages.

Dr Choi also visited the Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Interaction at Tianjin University to learn about its work on the industrialisationof innovative achievements. She noted that Hong Kong and Tianjin share a solid foundation of co-operation. She is confident that the two places can strengthen collaboration in scientific research, thereby aligning with the strategy of invigorating the country through science and education and contributing to the country's development into a strong nation in education.

In addition, Dr Choi visited Nankai High School in Tianjin to know more about its practices in integrating school history to pass on traditional Chinese culture and promoting students' whole-person development. She also visited the Exhibition Hall on Uprising of the Two Airlines to understand its successful experience in promoting patriotic education.

Dr Choi will continue her visit in Beijing tomorrow (September 21) to participate in activities of the "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation.

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, visited Tianjin yesterday (September 19) and toured the Exhibition Hall on Uprising of the Two Airlines. Photo shows Dr Choi (second left) listening to a briefing by a representative of the exhibition hall. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, visited Tianjin yesterday (September 19) and toured Nankai High School in Tianjin. Photo shows Dr Choi (second right) listening to a school representative introducing the campus. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, visited Tianjin yesterday (September 19) and toured the Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Interaction at Tianjin University. Photo shows Dr Choi (first left) listening to a university representative introducing its work on the industrialisation of innovative achievements. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, visited Tianjin yesterday (September 19) and met with Vice Mayor of Tianjin Mr Zhai Lixin to exchange views on further deepening educational co-operation between the two places. Photo shows Dr Choi (back row, left) and Mr Zhai (back row, right) witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding on educational co-operation between the Education Bureau of Hong Kong and the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, participated in the visit of the "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation to Tsinghua University today (September 20) and met with the Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee, Professor Qiu Yong. Photo shows Dr Choi (front row, third right) and Professor Qiu Yong (front row, centre) with the delegation and university representatives after the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation today (September 20) visited primary and secondary sister schools in Beijing, allowing the teachers and students to interact face-to-face with their counterparts on the Mainland and learn more about campus life, learning philosophies, and youth aspirations in both places. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, participated in the visit of the "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation to Peking University today (September 20) and met with the Secretary of the CPC Peking University Committee, Mr He Guangcai. Photo shows Dr Choi (front row, third right) and Mr He (front row, centre) with the delegation and university representatives after the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation today (September 20) visited primary and secondary sister schools in Beijing, allowing the teachers and students to interact face-to-face with their counterparts on the Mainland and learn more about campus life, learning philosophies, and youth aspirations in both places. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation today (September 20) visited primary and secondary sister schools in Beijing, allowing the teachers and students to interact face-to-face with their counterparts on the Mainland and learn more about campus life, learning philosophies, and youth aspirations in both places. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation attended the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square this morning (September 20). They were led by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and various guests. Photo shows Dr Choi (second row, second left) and other guests with students attending the flag-raising ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation attended the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square this morning (September 20). They were led by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and various guests. Photo shows Dr Choi (front row, first right) and other guests with students attending the flag-raising ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation attended the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square this morning (September 20). They were led by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and various guests. Photo shows Dr Choi (second left) and other guests with students attending the flag-raising ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation attended the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square this morning (September 20). They were led by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and various guests. Photo shows Dr Choi (front row, third right) and other guests with students attending the flag-raising ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Special offers announced in celebration of 77th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China

October 1 this year marks the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Government and different sectors of the community will launch a rich array of special offers and activities, covering public transport; culture, arts and leisure; as well as dining and consumption, to celebrate the National Day with the public.

MTR, Photo source: reference image

For public transport, the MTR will give away 77 000 e-single-journey rides through a lucky draw on October 1. Members of the public can also enjoy free rides on all passenger tram routes and several ferry routes of the Star Ferry and Fortune Ferry on that day, while children using designated payment methods can ride most daytime franchised bus routes of KMB, Long Win Bus, Citybus and New Lantao Bus for free. Moreover, Greater Bay Airlines will provide ticket offers, under which people can purchase flight tickets of all non-charter routes at 77 per cent of the original fare during the promotion period.

Photo source: reference image

For culture, arts and leisure, all commercial cinemas will provide half-price discounts on movie tickets on October 1. The public will also be offered free admission on the same day to a number of fee-charging leisure facilities and exhibitions in museums of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and to the Hong Kong Wetland Park under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Furthermore, the Antiquities and Monuments Office, 14 projects under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme, Police Museum, Tai Kwun and PMQ will roll out various offers, including additional free guided tours.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Photo source: reference image

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Jockey Club will hold the National Day Raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse on October 1, during which members of the public can enter the Public Enclosures of Sha Tin and Happy Valley Racecourses for free. Ngong Ping 360 and Ocean Park Hong Kong will offer ticket discounts. The Peak Tram and Madame Tussauds Hong Kong will give out souvenirs to ticket holders while stocks last.

Photo source: reference image

As for dining and consumption, initially over 2 000 restaurants and merchants will provide dining offers on October 1. Several public markets under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will launch different offers. Members of the public can also purchase designated products at 77 per cent of the original price via the Hong Kong Harvest physical store, online store or mobile app from October 1 to 7. The Environmental Protection Department will offer double GREEN$ Points to members of the public who recycle at its community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY on October 1. The Police Souvenir Gallery, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, HKTDC Design Gallery, as well as various shopping malls and department stores will roll out offers on dining, consumption, parking, etc.

The Government thanks various sectors for actively responding to its call by launching special offers and activities to celebrate the 77th National Day with the public together. Information about the offers and activities is now available on the dedicated website (www.nationalday77.gov.hk).

Celebration of National Day, Photo source: reference image