HKUST Holds Flag-Raising Ceremony to Celebrate the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) held a flag-raising ceremony on campus this morning to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The University was honored to have Mr. SONG Yiping, Deputy Director General of The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Counsellor WANG Jian, Director-General of the International Department of The Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR, and Mr. FENG Heng, Special Envoy of the UN Organization for Mediation, together with Mr. CHAN Tin-chu, District Commander (Tseung Kwan O) of the Hong Kong Police Force, preside over the ceremony. They were joined by Dr. John CHAN Cho-chak, Pro-Chancellor of HKUST; Dr. the Hon. Andrew LIAO Cheung-sing, Chairman of the University Court; Prof. GUO Yike, Acting President of HKUST; Ms. Edith SHIH, Vice-Chairperson of the HKUST Council; Mr. Stephen YIU Kin-wah, Treasurer of the University; as well as members of the HKUST Council and Court, university management, faculty, students, alumni, and their families. The event was attended by over 250 members of the HKUST community and generated more than 10,000 online views via live stream.

Gathered at the HKUST Piazza in front of the Red Bird Sundial sculpture, attendees stood in solemn silence as they witnessed the national, regional, and university flags slowly rise into the air. Together, they offered their warmest wishes for the enduring prosperity of our nation, as well as the long-term peace and stability of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Prof. Harry SHUM, Council Chairman of HKUST, said: "As we celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, we reflect with pride on the nation's remarkable achievements and transformative development over the past decades, particularly in science, technology and innovation. This year carries special significance as the nation embarks on the 15th Five-Year Plan while Hong Kong formulates its inaugural Five-Year Plan. As a leading university with a strong sense of mission, HKUST will continue to align its development with the strategic priorities of the nation and the HKSAR. By fully leveraging our strengths in education, innovation and talent cultivation, we are committed to contributing to the nation's ambition of becoming a global powerhouse in education, science and technology, while supporting Hong Kong's integration into the overall national development agenda."

Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, said: "As HKUST celebrates its 35th anniversary, we are entering a new chapter of development alongside Hong Kong and the nation. We fully support the implementation of Hong Kong's inaugural Five-Year Plan and are committed to contributing to key initiatives such as the Northern Metropolis development and the Northern Metropolis University Town. Through our strengths in frontier research, international collaboration, knowledge transfer and talent development, we seek to build a globally connected innovation ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, healthcare, entrepreneurship and investment. By accelerating the translation of research outcomes into real-world solutions and nurturing the next generation of innovation leaders, HKUST will continue to contribute to the high-quality development of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the nation.”

Fostering Patriotism and Building Character Through Discipline 
This year's flag-raising ceremony marked the first collaboration between the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison and the HKUST Flag Guard Team. Representatives of the Garrison worked seamlessly alongside members of the University's Flag Guard Team, which comprises current students and alumni, to raise the National Flag of the People's Republic of China, the Flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the HKUST Flag. The ceremony was conducted with great solemnity and dignity, with all participants demonstrating exemplary discipline and professionalism that inspired deep respect among attendees.

Ms. LAU Sze-lam, a third-year student in BBA in Professional Accounting program at HKUST, and member of the Flag Guard Team, shared, "Recently, I had the privilege of joining The ‘Salute to the National Flag’ Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation as a student representative, and was received by Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China, who encouraged us to 'understand the national flag, guard the national flag, and bring honor to the national flag.' During the visit to Beijing, I visited the National Museum of China, Robot World, and the Xiaomi Super Factory, witnessing firsthand the nation's booming development and innovative technology, which naturally evoked a deep sense of pride and belonging in my heart. In addition, we had the opportunity to visit the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Seeing their resolute eyes and posture filled me with a deep sense of mission to guard the national flag. To represent HKUST and shoulder this great responsibility on National Day is a tremendous honor and a meaningful affirmation the University’s confidence on me. I sincerely hope that this ceremony will serve not only as a solemn event, but also an opportunity to inspire reflection, encouraging everyone to remember the nation's extraordinary journey, carry forward the will of our predecessors and the pride of our nation, transform that conviction into a driving force for the country's future development and dedicate our youth and passion to strive for the motherland and bring glory to the national flag."

Ms. LI Ailin, an alumna of MSc in Biomolecular Engineering and Health Informatics program at HKUST, and Vice-Captain of the Flag Guard Team, stated, "It is a tremendous honor to shoulder this important responsibility at the National Day flag-raising ceremony. The experience fills me with a profound sense of national belonging and an even stronger appreciation of my responsibilities and mission. As a member of the HKUST community, I am privileged to lead by example and help promote a patriotic spirit among students. I hope this occasion will inspire more young people to strengthen their connection with our motherland, deepen their sense of national identity, and contribute to the future development of both our nation and Hong Kong."

Ms. HUANG Zixi, a fourth-year student in BSc in Risk Management and Business Intelligence program at HKUST, and member of the Flag Guard Team, noted, "Every aspect of the flag-raising ceremony demands absolute precision and must be executed flawlessly. Achieving this standard is only possible through months of rigorous training and close teamwork. Every single step and movement reflects our commitment to excellence. Having the opportunity to represent HKUST at such a solemn National Day ceremony is not only a great honor, but also a source of motivation for me to serve society with the same level of dedication and professionalism in the future, while embracing the responsibilities of the younger generation."