Trams depart from the Whitty Street tram depot after the launch ceremony of "Free Tram Ride Days", an event organized by the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, on July 1, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region threw itself into a festive mood on Saturday as residents from all walks of life joined in the celebrations to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland.

Streets, sidewalks and flyovers across the metropolis were immersed in red, with the national and HKSAR flags fluttering side by side. Flag-raising ceremonies were held citywide, while Hong Kong’s iconic trams were decorated with colorful banners, with commuters enjoying free tram rides for five days from Saturday. In a long-standing tradition to mark the big day, fishing boats, also decked with national and HKSAR flags, paraded in Victoria Harbour.

Some residents also marked the anniversary in their own ways. Clad in matching outfits featuring both the national and HKSAR flags, they took part in a 7.1-kilometer run in the New Territories.

The SAR government and enterprises rolled out a host of freebies for the public, including free transportation rides, free access to public sports and entertainment facilities and museums, and discounts at more than 1,400 restaurants.  

The past year has been good overall, with the pandemic having ended, while local residents can gain wider access to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, giving full play to Hong Kong’s strengths in its geographical location, the economy, technology, healthcare and education.

Christine Han Dan, a lecturer at the City University of Hong Kong

 Christine Han Dan, a lecturer at the City University of Hong Kong, praised the promotional offers for the special day. “The past year has been good overall, with the pandemic having ended, while local residents can gain wider access to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, giving full play to Hong Kong’s strengths in its geographical location, the economy, technology, healthcare and education,” she said.

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Han said she’s also glad to see more graduates of CityU building up their careers on the Chinese mainland, while mainland students can study at CityU, helping to ease the city’s shortage of talents. She hopes the SAR government can offer more initiatives to remove the lifestyle barriers between Hong Kong and mainland people.

Joy Chen Ying-Chang, who founded an agency for overseas education, took his son to a show in Sha Tin, where his son went on stage to perform martial arts, to the delight of the audience. “Hong Kong’s return to the motherland is a big day that’s of great significance to the Chinese nation. It has greatly boosted the economic development of the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, benefiting the city’s stability and prosperity, and improving people’s living standards,” Chen said.

Founder of an agency for overseas education Joy Chen Ying-Chang's son and other children perform martial arts to commemorate the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland on July 1, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Chen said he was thrilled that his son had the opportunity to participate in the show. The event was highly beneficial to children’s development, offering them a valuable educational experience.

Hong Kong’s return to the motherland is a big day that’s of great significance to the Chinese nation. It has greatly boosted the economic development of the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, benefiting the city’s stability and prosperity, and improving people’s living standards.

Joy Chen Ying-Chang, founder of an agency for overseas education

Jacky Ko Chung-kit, who works in the information technology and media sectors, said he could feel Hong Kong being much more united, and residents are happier with more preferential policies being implemented for development.

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A mainland tourist, surnamed Zhang, came to Hong Kong to join in the festivities. She said the city has gone all out to attract visitors with so many promotional policies. She said she enjoyed touring local attractions, including parks, museums and art galleries in the past three days.

Indoor and outdoor public swimming pools were open the public for free on July 1. Apart from free admissions to Hong Kong Wetland Park, Hong Kong Science Museum and Hong Kong Space Museum, residents could visit seven thematic exhibitions at Hong Kong Palace Museum and all other exhibitions at M+ museum for free.

Trams are offering unlimited free rides for five days from Saturday, while free rides on MTR trains, its buses and light rail trains were offered for only one day. The corporation will also give out 26 annual passes and 71,000 free ride tickets in a lucky draw. Also providing free rides are ferries, including those of the Star Ferry between Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai.

READ MORE: HKSAR holds cultural events to celebrate its 26th anniversary

From July to August, 6,000 shops across the city are jointly offering 1.3 million gifts, such as free burgers, cups of coffee and supermarket cash coupons, at the Happy Hong Kong Shopping Festival hosted by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association.