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Crowds awash with emotion as troops flood in

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The first day of the Special Administrative Region dawned with more changes confirming Hong Kong's new status.

More than 4,000 PLA troops crossed the border in trucks and armoured personnel carriers. Others arrived in patrol ships and helicopters.

SAR and national logos appeared above the Central Government Offices, the five gold stars flew above Government House and new Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa was chauffeured in a car with the bauhinia symbol replacing its number plate.

Thousands turned out to welcome the dawn arrival of the PLA convoys coming through Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Shataukok.

A planned simultaneous arrival of air, sea and land forces had to be abandoned because of the dismal weather. Four patrol ships crossed into Hong Kong waters at exactly 6am, but only later did the seven helicopters fly to their base at Sek Kong.

On both ships and trucks, the troops stood ramrod straight, looking ahead and motionless or waving in unison but without seeming to see the crowds cheering 'welcome' in Putonghua.

Mr Tung was more exuberant when he offered his policy blueprint just hours after being sworn in as leader of what he described as 'the freest and most vibrant economy in the world'.

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