The Chinese national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is being raised at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on July 1, 2023, to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. (CALVIN NG/ CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's twenty-sixth anniversary to mark the city's return to the motherland got off to an enthusiastic start across the Special Administrative Region with the signature flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square and at the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Edmond Tang, Parker Zheng and Calvin Ng captured the moments for China Daily. 

The Chinese national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region unfurl at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on July 1, 2023, to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. (CALVIN NG/ CHINA DAILY)

The Chinese national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region fly high at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on July 1, 2023, after the flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. (CALVIN NG/ CHINA DAILY)

The Chinese national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is being raised at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on July 1, 2023, to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. (CALVIN NG/ CHINA DAILY)

Helicopters lower the Chinese national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on July 1, 2023, in preperation of the flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Uniformed forces in attention at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on July 1, 2023, for the flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

The Chinese national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region fly high at   at the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong in celebration of the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on July 1, 2023. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Officials attend a flag-raising ceremony at the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to mark the 26th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland on July 1, 2023. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Zheng Yanxiong and other officials attend the flag-raising ceremony at the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland on July 1, 2023. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Zheng Yanxiong waves to the people after attending the flag-raising ceremony at the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong in celebration of the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on July 1, 2023. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu gives a speech to mark the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic Of China, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on July 1, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Dignitaries join Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (center) on the dais to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic Of China, at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on July 1, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Officials attend a flag-raising ceremony at the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to mark the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR on July 1, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

A flag-raising ceremony is held at one of the barracks of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison, in Hong Kong, on July 1, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)