Carrie Lam Marks Sichuan Quake Anniversary

The Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, will return to Hong Kong on Sunday after a visit to Sichuan during which she marked the 10th anniversary of the massive Wenchuan earthquake.

Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Patrick Nip, attended a ceremony at the former Xuankou Middle School in Yingxiu Town in Wenchuan County. The school was flattened by the earthquake.

Participants observed a moment of silence and presented flowers to mourn the victims.

President Xi Jinping also marked the anniversary by praising the efforts of the ruling Communist party in rebuilding devastated areas.

More than 87,000, including 5,335 school pupils, were left dead or missing when a 7.9-magnitude quake struck Sichuan on the afternoon of May 12, 2008.