Sunday marked the first National Day holiday in Hong Kong since all Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, with crowds once again allowed to gather and fireworks illuminating Victoria Harbour after a four-year hiatus.
The day began with a flag-raising ceremony and reception, during which Chief Executive John Lee hailed the “endless opportunities” Beijing had given Hong Kong, raising a glass to observe the 74th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
Across the city, groups of people wearing Hanfu, traditional dress of China’s Han dynasty, or carrying national flags gathered to celebrate the occasion, amid temperatures of up to 34 degrees Celsius.
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Leading up to National Day, flags, bunting and posters appeared from Central to Yuen Long. When asked by HKFP about the cost of the patriotic decorations in local districts, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson on Friday did not give an exact figure.
At 9 pm, pyrotechnic display involving more than 30,000 fireworks and with a price tag of HK$18 million kicked off above Victoria Harbour. While some people were so eager to see the return of fireworks to the city they secured their spots along the harbourfront early in the day, stallholders at a market who were forced to close during the spectacle were less enamoured.
