Festivities to be held for 25th anniversary of Hong Kong SAR

A host of celebrations will be held in Hong Kong on July 1 to mark the special administrative region's 25th anniversary, a significant milestone of its development.

At a Tuesday news conference, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the 25th anniversary is a very important day, adding that with the central government's firm support, the SAR has returned to the right track of "one country, two systems".

She noted that as the fifth wave of COVID-19 has eased, the city will begin to hold celebrations previously delayed by the public health crisis.

She added that the theme song for the anniversary will be released next week.

The number of daily new infections in the city has been declining since mid-April, and the number fell below 200 for the first time in recent months on Monday.

With classes resuming, the epidemic situation in schools has also been stable, and, as of Monday, 349 cases had been found by daily rapid antigen tests on campuses, she added.

Given the easing trend, the government relaxed social distancing measures in late April and May. Lam said the public has responded positively to the move, adding that the third phase of relaxed measures may be implemented before June 30.

On Monday, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that it will host a series of programs celebrating the anniversary from May to the end of this year, including exhibitions, artistic performances and floral displays.

On July 1, most of the city's paid sports facilities, such as swimming pools, badminton courts and billiard rooms, will be open to the public for free.

To mark the special occasion, the city's anti-corruption watchdog, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, will also open up its facilities on three weekends in July for the public to learn first-hand about Hong Kong's anti-corruption history.