SAR Delegation Heads To Beijing For Celebrations

Chief Executive Carrie Lam flew out of Hong Kong on Monday morning to lead a delegation of more than 240 people from the SAR to Beijing for Tuesday's National Day celebrations.

Those invited to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China come from various sectors and include businessman Allan Zeman, pro-establishment lawmakers Starry Lee and Junius Ho, Law Society chairwoman Melissa Pang, and Beijing friendly columnist Chris Wat.

Principal officials including Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng and Health Secretary Sophia Chan are part of the delegation.

News department heads from various media outlets are also heading to the capital, including Yuen Chi-wai from TVB and Tammy Tam from the South China Morning Post.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung is staying behind in Hong Kong and is acting CE until Lam returns on Tuesday evening, via Shenzhen.

Officials have not released any details about the itinerary for the SAR delegation's trip to the capital, but the focus of Tuesday's festivities will be a massive military parade, involving some 15,000 troops, along Chang'an Avenue and in Tiananmen Square.

The SAR's own festivities to mark National Day will be a low-key affair this year in light of the ongoing unrest, with the fireworks show cancelled and guests for the flag-raising ceremony to watch the event indoors again, as they did on July 1.

On Monday, which is Martyrs' Day on the mainland, President Xi Jinping joined other top leaders in presenting flowers at the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square.

They also visited the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall to pay tribute to the PRC's founder.