The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government held an official ceremony on Wednesday at the Hong Kong City Hall Memorial Garden to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Photo: Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government held an official ceremony on Wednesday at the Hong Kong City Hall Memorial Garden to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

A grand commemorative gathering was held in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Wednesday morning including a military parade. Local residents in Hong Kong attached high attention to the commemorative events, and some said they are "incredibly excited, and deeply moved."

The ceremony organized by the HKSAR government included the playing and singing of the national anthem, flag raising, Rifle Volley by the Police Rifle Squad, the observation of silence in mourning, wreath laying by the Guard of Honour and bowing in tribute by all those attended, according to a statement released by the HKSAR government. 

In 2014, the National People's Congress designated September 3 as the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in remembrance of the resistance of Chinese people against Japanese aggression and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the war. The HKSAR Government has been hosting official commemorative activities in Hong Kong correspondingly since then, the HKSAR government said in the release.

The Education Bureau of the HKSAR recently sent letters to primary and secondary schools encouraging them to organize commemorative and learning activities, and it is reported that many schools arranged for students to watch the live broadcast of the parade held in Beijing this morning, according to local media reports. 

"Most schools across the city chose to watch the live broadcast, and coverage of the parade was available on different channels, allowing students to follow it in various languages," Lawrence Tang Fei, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and vice president of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Tang believed that this event can help Hong Kong students gain a broader understanding of the country, and since this parade features some military equipment that have never been displayed before, it holds significant meaning for students in learning about national defense and security.

A representative from the Hong Kong Flag-guards was quoted as saying in a report by local media RTHK that watching the live broadcast of the parade was exciting and made them feel the country is very powerful, with sufficient strength to safeguard national security and protect sovereignty. 

Another local student noted that the knowledge learned in school about national security, combined with watching the live broadcast of the parade, made them better understand that peace does not come easily and reinforced their awareness of national security, RTHK said.