Hong Kong July 1st Celebrations: the 27th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong July 1st Flag Raising Ceremony Bauhinia Square

July 1st in Hong Kong is a public holiday that commemorates the Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to Mainland China in 1997.

The scope and extent of the celebrations have varied over the years including parades, flag-raising ceremonies, cultural performances, sports matches, and in some instances, fantastic fireworks displays!

2024 celebrates the 27th Anniversary and many events and activities organised by state offices as well as many community groups to conmemorate the return of Hong Kong to the motherland will take place throughout the territory.

District Carnivals and Festivals to Commemorate the 27th Anniversary of the HK SAR

Events and celebrations are organised by the various District councils and scattered throughout the months. Events range from sketching and painting activities, football matches, dancing competitions, cultural nights, dragon and lion parades, marching bands, concerts and art exhibitions, tai chi and martial arts, carnivals and fairs.

In addition, enjoy free public transportation on July 1st as follows:

Free Tram rides for all
Children 3 to 11 ride the MTR for free.
Free service on Light Rail and MTR Bus running in the Northwest New Territories
Free Star Ferry rides on the Tsim Sha Tsui - Wan Chai route
Sun Ferry and Fortune Ferry offering free vouchers for rides

Projects and events for the 2024 celebrations are now underway as Hong Kong gears up for the occasion and gets ready to beautify all public spaces. Lavish decorations will adorn the city, from walkways and promenades, parks and many points of interest, there will be flower galore, light ups and lantern displays.

Festive Displays in the Southern District @ lamposts, footbridges, pedestrian tunnels, community halls and community centres of Southern District - June and July 2024
Auspicious Lighting at Victoria Park - June 29 to July 21, 2024

Hong Kong July 1st Lantern Switch-on Ceremony

In the art and cultural scene, the celebrations include a series of exhibitions, concerts and cultural shows. These are some of the highlights:

FREE admission to M+ on July 1st, as well as all thematic exhibitions of the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District
Variety Show at Wah Kwai Community Hall - June 29, 2024
North District Youth Dancing Show at Lung Sum Avenue Sports Centre - June 30, 2024
Talent Show at Hung Home Community Hall - July 1st, 2024
Wong Tai Sin District Arts Gala at Wong Tai Sin Community Centre - July 1st, 2024
Islands District Cultural Show at Tung Chung Community Hall - July 1st, 2024
Cantonese Opera Show at Shek Wai Kok Community Hall - July 1st, 2024
Soaring Dragon, Leaping Lion and Dancing Unicorn, Martial Arts Show at Wai Tsuen Sports Centre - July 1st, 2024
Cultural Performances at Tsuen Wan Town Hall - July 1st, 2024
Variety Show at Sham Shui Po Sports Center - July 1st, 2024
Sai Kung Variety Show and dragon and lion dance at Hang Hau Sports Centre - July 1st, 2024
Wan Chai Gala Show at Queen Elizabeth Stadium - July 19, 2024
Yau Tsim Mong Cantonese Opera 2024 at the Grand Theatre of the HK Cultural Centre - August 13, 2024

Top highlight sports events in 2024:

All LCSD sport and leisure facilities that normally charge an entrance fee will be open for free use on July 1st.
Dragon Boat Races: Aberdeen, Saikung, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun - June 12, 2024
The 8th Sui Ming Cup (Hong Kong) Mainland China - Hong Kong Junior Tennis Exchange Program and Celebrity Charity Tennis Match at Kowloon Cricket Club - June 29 - 30, 2024
Yau Tsim Mong District Interschool Football Competition at Anchor Street Playground - June 30, 2024
Learning Through Experience Dragon Boat Carnival by HK Sea School at Stanley Main Beach - June 30, 2024
Youth Soccer Invitational Tournament - The Return Cup at Sha Tsui Road Playground - July 1st, 2024
Soaring Dragon, Leaping Lion and Dancing Unicorn, Martial Arts Show at Wai Tsuen Sports Centre - July 1st, 2024
Unmanned Underwater System Challenge at HK Polytechnic University - July 2, 2024
Joyful Yuen Long Dragon Dances at Long Ngai Path - July 5 to 7, 2024

There will be plenty of activities throughout the year for kids including all sorts of drawing, calligraphy, poetry, dancing competitions and the like as well as the many carnivals and fun days staged by all the local districts.

FREE admission to a range of fee-charging leisure and cultural facilities of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Carnival at Central Plaza @ Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate - June 29, 2024
Soaring Dragon, Leaping Lion and Dancing Unicorn, Martial Arts Show at Wai Tsuen Sports Centre - July 1st, 2024
Community Harmony Carnival at Tsuen Wan West Sports Centre - July 1st, 2024
Yuen Long District Carnival at Tin Shui Wai Ginza Square and Park - July 1st, 2024
Kwai Tsing District Carnivals at Tsing Yi Estate Community Hall and other venues - July 1st, 2024
Lei Muk Shue Fun Day at the Community Hall - July 1st, 2024
Drones Show at Tsuen Wan Waterfront Promenade - July 1st, 2024
Wong Tai Sin Dessert Bazaar at Wong Tai Sin Square - June 28 to July 1st, 2024
Sai Kung Variety Show and dragon and lion dance at Hang Hau Sports Centre - July 1st, 2024
Wan Chai Gala Show at Queen Elizabeth Stadium - July 19, 2024

Flag Raising Ceremony and Flypast

This is pageantry at its best featuring Hong Kong's Guards of Honor, Police and Military marching bands, and a Grand Flypast as both the Chinese and Hong Kong flags are raised to full mast at Golden Bauhinia Square, the site of the original handover ceremony in 1997.

The event is quite short and as expected, fully-attended by government officials and dignitaries.

When?: July 1st, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.

Where?: Golden Bauhinia Square

The Transport Department anticipates that traffic in the vicinity will become significantly congested. There will be road closures as well as suspension of the bus stops on Expo Drive East near Convention Avenue.

Events are being listed as they are announced on the official website at http://www.hksar27.gov.hk/en/. Unfortunately so far no fireworks have been announced for July 1st, 2024, here's the latest from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, stay tuned!