Three thousand children from schools across the city converged on the Wan Chai waterfront yesterday for the biggest-ever ceremony to mark the May Fourth Movement in Hong Kong. It included the raising of the national flag in Golden Bauhinia Square. Mainland-born pianist Li Yundi performed the national anthem with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. The function, which featured 112 mainland youngsters from ethnic minorities, was part of programmes by youth groups to mark the 10th anniversary of the end of colonial rule. A spokesman for the organisers, Alan Tang Kat-fat, said: 'We hope to use the function to convey the message of unification of different ethnic groups in China. And we would also like Hong Kong's young people to feel the love and care of the motherland.' A similar ceremony was held for the first time on May 4 last year and the organisers are keen to make it an annual event. Mr Tang said: 'Last year was small-scale. This year we wanted to make it big to coincide with the 10th anniversary. The spirit of May 4 should not be forgotten, either.' One of the participants, Tam Tze-lun, said: 'In the past, we did not treat the national anthem as something special. Now we are showing more respect for it after knowing more about China.' Officiating guests included Legislative Council president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, Tsang Hin-chi, an NPC Standing Committee member, and Li Gang, deputy director of the central government's liaison office. A three-day exhibition on ethnic minority groups is being held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre and will close today. Starting on May 4, 1919, the May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist and pro-democracy movement that marked an upsurge in Chinese nationalism and a rethink of traditional values like Confucianism.
