Welsh dragon to fly at Cenotaph

THE Welsh dragon will roar in Central today when the flag of St David becomes the first non-Chinese flag to fly at the Cenotaph since the handover.

A wreath will also be laid in memory of Welsh war dead and their fallen comrades in a St David's Day ceremony paving the way for future memorial services by other countries on their national and patron saints' days.

Director of Administration Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai and the Urban Services Department approved the hoisting of the flags of China, the SAR and Wales opposite the Legislative Council Building.

Before the handover, the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh flags flew on their countries' saints' days and other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, had the same privilege.

War veterans won a battle for the Chinese and Hong Kong flags to be flown at last year's Remembrance Day service but otherwise the memorial has remained bare.

'It is the first time since the handover so it is very significant,' said St David's Society committee member Nick Poole, who will lay a wreath at the 11 am service.

'We were given the choice to fly the Welsh flag exclusively but we thought it would be good to have the Chinese and the SAR flags as well, as a tribute to all fallen heroes.'