Hong Kong politicians of all stripes joint events to celebrate anniversary of China's 1911 revolution

Eighteen years after the handover, Taiwan's Double Tenth Festival is still celebrated in Hong Kong by Taiwanese and pro-Taiwan groups.

At a ceremony at the Red House in Tuen Mun - a revolutionary base for Sun Yat-sen - the Republic of China flag was hoisted to mark the 104th anniversary of the 1911 revolution that ended imperial rule in China and led to a republic.

Dr Steve Lin Chu-chia, special deputy minister of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council who was in town to join celebrations, and more than 200 participants from local pro-Taiwan groups sang their anthem and bowed before Sun's statue.

A larger reception with hundreds of guests was held at the InterContinental Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui at noon. It was attended by local politicians from across the political spectrum.

Yen Chueng-kuang, Taiwan's most senior representative in the city, said he felt a lively atmosphere at yesterday's celebration.

"Hong Kong was a special base for Dr Sun to lead the revolution … It played a unique and important role in the establishment of the first democratic republic in Asia," said Yen, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. "Although the two sides of the strait are under different governments now, they have moved from confrontation to cooperation."

But pan-democrat Wong Yuk-man, a Taiwan graduate, who attended the reception, was more critical. "This is just a routine ceremony by Taiwan's official organisation in Hong Kong. Much of the celebration at civic level has been lost since 1997."

Industrial sector lawmaker Lam Tai-fai, a delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference - Beijing's top advisory body - also appeared at the event. He said it was not sensitive for him to take part. "I've come here for many years. In the 1980s and 1990s I often travelled to Taiwan for business so I built up connections there."

Other guests included Civic Party leader and lawmaker Alan Leong Kah-kit, former Democratic Party lawmaker Fred Li Wah-ming and Third Side deputy convenor and former lawmaker Nelson Wong Sing-chi. Wreaths were laid in Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park in Sai Ying Pun.