Officiating guest Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, the executive director of the Hong Kong Association of Youth Groups, said she was proud to witness Hong Kong breaking a world record.

The annual celebration also included uniformed groups parading in their colours and live music performed by the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Band.

This year, the association promoted environmental protection and 100 Girl Guides took part in the Building World Project.

Second former Angel Tong Man-shan, 14, a student at St Stephen Girls' College, was an environment protection ambassador for the project.

'We don't have to be scientists or biologists, but we can be concerned about our lifestyles. Minimise waste and recycle,' Man-shan said.

The health of the environment depended on our behaviour, she said.

Outstanding Girl Guides and Brownie Guides were presented the Chief Commissioner's Guide Award and the Super Brownie's Award respectively.

Lau Siu-ying, 17, has been a Girl Guide since Form One and had passed dozens of courses to win an award. The sixth former said the association's courses were very difficult.

'There was so much material relating to history to remember. I enjoyed the outdoors survival skills course more,' Siu-ying said.

The celebration was brought to a close with 2,000 guides forming the letters 'HKGGA 2000' on the field.

Over 2,000 girls create the world's longest lanyard for association's annual celebrations