Hong Kong handover anniversary

The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997 marked the end of more than 150 years of British colonial rule and the start of the region’s status as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. Seventeen years later, on 1 July 2026, Hong Kong commemorated the 29th anniversary of that handover. Government officials held a flag‑raising ceremony at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, featuring the national, regional and university flags, while Chief Executive John Lee highlighted the city’s economic progress. Public festivities included free tram and ferry rides, discounted attraction tickets, sporting events, cultural exhibitions and a large drone display over Victoria Harbour. At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a 35‑member Flag Guard Team performed a solemn ceremony, symbolising the university’s 35th anniversary and its ties to mainland China.