Cherish peace and stability, John Lee urges Hongkongers during Chung Yeung Festival

Hong Kong’s leader has urged residents to cherish peace and stability as senior officials marked Chung Yeung Festival with tributes to the city’s wartime defenders and public servants who died in the line of duty.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attended the annual ceremony at the Hong Kong City Hall Memorial Garden in Central on Sunday, laying a wreath to honour those who died defending the city between 1941 and 1945.

“As we remember the heroes who sacrificed their lives in war and our compatriots who perished, we should learn lessons from history, jointly cherish and safeguard this hard-won peace and stability, and continue working for Hong Kong’s future,” he wrote on social media earlier in the day.

At the memorial, a flag-raising ceremony was held and then attendees observed a moment of silence with their heads bowed before representatives stepped forward to lay wreaths.

Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king, who attended the City Hall ceremony, said the sacrifices of those who died defending Hong Kong should remind residents to value the present and shoulder their responsibilities.

She stressed the importance of helping younger generations understand the history of the city’s struggle and appreciate peace, so the fallen defenders’ spirit could be passed on and unite people in protecting their home and building Hong Kong’s future.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan separately visited Gallant Garden on the government’s behalf, offering flowers to colleagues who died while performing their duties.

She said those buried there came from different government departments and ranks, and their dedication and selfless service would remain in colleagues’ hearts.

“They are role models for us to learn from, and also remind us to stay true to our original aspirations and mission, and do our utmost to serve the public,” she wrote.

Yeung also laid flowers for victims of the Manila hostage crisis from 2010, in which eight Hong Kong residents died.