In Pictures: Hong Kong sees citywide Handover celebrations, discounts, but meagre turnout at patriotic fair
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong on Monday saw citywide festivities to mark 27 years since the city was handed over from Britain to China. But the turnout at a park fair on Chinese culture and innovation was meagre, as one attendee complained that the heavy police presence cast a shadow over the celebratory atmosphere.
Over 20 fishing boats adorned with bright, red national and Hong Kong flags paraded around Victoria Harbour on Monday to celebrate Beijing’s resumption of sovereignty.
See also: New security law a ‘sharp sword’ says Hong Kong’s John Lee, as leader hails 1 Country, 2 Systems
Led by the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium, dozens of residents – most wearing pink vests – waved Chinese flags outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. They sent off the boats, which made their way to Hong Kong Island before returning to Tsim Sha Tsui via Kai Tak and Hung Hom.
Echoing his 2023 speech, Chief Executive John Lee vowed to improve the livelihoods of Hongkongers on Monday in an address after the official flag-raising ceremony. In other parts of Hong Kong, small scale flag-raising ceremonies were also held to mark the occasion, including at local universities and the Patriotic Education Centre, where an event was overseen by Secretary for Education Christine Choi.
The government rolled out a series of promotions for the Handover anniversary, including free tram rides and free admission to some exhibitions at the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Palace Museum.
Discounts were available at over 1,000 eateries, Ocean Park, Cyberport and at government-run market stalls.
Patriotic exhibition at Victoria Park
Over in Victoria Park, the Hong Kong Celebrations Association organised a four-day exhibition featuring booths about China’s history, natural landscape, innovation technology and delicacies. Large installations featuring the number 27 and patriotic bauhinia flowers were also set up for attendees to take photos.
In decades past, the Causeway Bay venue served as a starting point for the traditional, mass July 1 pro-democracy marches. However, no mass rallies have been approved since the onset of the Beijing-imposed security law in 2020.
The turnout on Monday was relatively low when HKFP visited around lunchtime. Mrs Ho, 65, told HKFP that she believed the reason why there were few people was because many Hongkongers left the city during the three-day weekend.
The government may need to step up publicity work next year to raise awareness of discounts and other deals at the fair, she said.
Ho, dressed in a bright yellow qipao, went on to say that the celebratory atmosphere across Hong Kong was “subdued,” saying the police presence made her feel “less relaxed.”
On Saturday, 553,511 Hong Kong residents left the city, according to the Immigration Department.
The park in Causeway Bay saw a heavy police presence as officers patrolled the venue. More than ten police vans were parked outside the Victoria Park Swimming Pool.
“The police and other law enforcement agencies are a bit tense. After the 2019 social movement, security deployment was heavier compared to Handover celebrations held in previous years,” Mrs Ho said.
Another fair attendee – Mr Fung – told HKFP on Monday afternoon that he also thought the exhibition at Victoria Park was a bit quiet. But the 81-year-old said he was able to enjoy the booths, which reminded him of the trips he took to the mainland before.
Fung had attended a district flag-raising ceremony in Yau Tong in the morning, before making his way to Causeway Bay. Asked if this year’s Handover anniversary was special because of the enactment of Article 23 earlier this year, Fung said Hong Kong became much more peaceful and stable compared to the days of the “black-clad riots.”
“Whether you are patriotic or not is a separate matter, but you cannot forget you are Chinese,” he said.
Earlier on Monday, dentist Lee Ying-chi, one of the first people arrested for alleged sedition under Hong Kong’s homegrown security law, was reportedly taken away by the police. Police did not respond to HKFP’s questions as to whether Lee was arrested, stating only that they “will take appropriate action in accordance with the law depending on the situation.”
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