Hong Kong’s government held an official ceremony at the Memorial Garden of Hong Kong City Hall on September 3, with Chief Executive John Lee leading representatives from various sectors in paying tribute to those who died in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
The ceremony began at 8am with the national anthem and the raising of the national and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flags. A police rifle guard unit then fired a salute, followed by two minutes of silence and tributes before the memorial.
After the silence and salute, Lee led representatives from different sectors in bowing before the memorial. The ceremony’s programme also included other bows and gestures of remembrance for those who died in the war.
Those attending included senior Hong Kong government officials, members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, judicial officers, veterans’ groups, and representatives of uniformed and youth organisations.
Ming Pao and i-CABLE reported that former chief executives Tung Chee-hwa and Carrie Lam attended. Ming Pao also listed National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Vice-Chairman Leung Chun-ying and Acting Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong Li Yongsheng among those present.
Director of the Beijing Liaison Office in Hong Kong Zhou Ji also attended, according to reports. The ceremony was held after the National People’s Congress designated September 3 in 2014 as the commemoration day for victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression; Hong Kong began holding corresponding official commemorations that year.