Community-organised celebrations for Hong Kong’s handover anniversary can apply for official recognition under new pilot scheme
- The government is also planning 100 official events to mark the 25th year since Hong Kong’s establishment as a special administrative region of China on July 1, 1997
- Chief Secretary John Lee, who is overseeing the celebrations, says a broad range of activities will be presented under the theme of ‘A New Era – Stability, Prosperity, Opportunity’
Hong Kong authorities have launched a pilot scheme to recognise community-organised events as official celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the city’s handover from British to Chinese rule next July.
The new policy was announced along with 100 official events planned by the government and public bodies in a high-profile ceremony on Wednesday, six months before the city marks the 25th year since its establishment as a special administrative region of China on July 1, 1997.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club said in a separate announcement that it had earmarked special funding of up to HK$630 million (US$80.8 million) to support 60 events.
At Wednesday’s ceremony, the city’s No 2 official, Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu, who leads a cross-departmental office to coordinate the celebrations, said a broad range of activities would be presented under the theme of “A New Era – Stability, Prosperity, Opportunity” after Hong Kong “sailed through wind and waves” over the past half decade.
Citing the Beijing-imposed national security law, brought in after the 2019 social unrest, and the electoral overhaul to ensure “patriots” governed the city, he said: “Hong Kong has transformed from chaos to order and prosperity; from an era of destruction to a new era of establishment … I am confident that as long as we work together to seize new development opportunities, we will surely create a better future for Hong Kong.”
He appealed to local businesses, professional bodies and district organisations to hold celebratory events in the coming six months “to share the festive atmosphere”.
For the first time since the 1997 handover, civic groups holding celebrations can apply for inclusion in the official events calendar and website. Interested parties must submit their application no later than May 31.
“This not only demonstrates that the whole society unites and works as one, but also helps [organisers] publicise their events,” Lee said during the ceremony.
