Hong Kong HKSAR Establishment Day Holiday
HKSAR Establishment Day in Hong Kong is a public holiday, which residents celebrate it. The full form of HKSAR is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day. Every year, Hong Kong celebrates the occasion on July 1 as an annual event since 1997. It is a holiday that celebrates the United Kingdom’s transfer of sovereignty over the city to China. It also commemorates the occasion of Hong Kong being set up as a Special Administrative Region. Some people feel that this occasion is a celebration of Hong Kong’s independence from the rule of the United Kingdom. Others feel that that it is a day when they should express their viewpoints.
| Date | Day | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2020 | Wednesday | HKSAR Establishment Day |
| 1 July 2021 | Thursday | HKSAR Establishment Day |
| 1 July 2022 | Friday | HKSAR Establishment Day |
| 1 July 2023 | Saturday | HKSAR Establishment Day |
| 1 July 2024 | Monday | HKSAR Establishment Day |
| 1 July 2025 | Tuesday | HKSAR Establishment Day |
How Do They Celebrate HKSAR Establishment Day?
As mentioned earlier, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day is a public holiday. The general population gets this day off in Hong Kong. It is a day when a majority of the businesses and all schools are on holidays. People in the city go out and participate in one of the numerous protests. This march happens on July 1 every year all over the city. People also celebrate the occasion by enjoying different kinds of festivities. These are fashion shows, carnivals, a variety of performances, and lion dances.
Important tourist attractions, restaurants, and stores in the city of Hong Kong are open and functional as usual and so is the public transport in the city. HKSAR Establishment Day is also an occasion when key tourist attractions in the city such as the Peak, Disneyland, Ocean Park, and Ngong Ping are full of people.
What to Do During HKSAR Establishment Day in Hong Kong?
It is a public holiday in the city of Hong Kong, which often revolves around politics. Check out how they celebrate this public holiday on 1 July every year:
Many Use the Day for Expressing Their Disapproval and Political Views
Not all people in Hong Kong feel that the transition and the handover of the city is something to be happy and rejoice about. Many citizens of this city use the public holiday for voicing their disapproval for human right violations and actions taken by the Government of the country. Ever since the handover of the city took place in 1997. The Civil Human Rights Front leads a march on each year on July 1. Thus, the day has also emerged as the annual platform wherein protest marches demand universal suffrage.
They call and demand preservation and observance of civil liberties including free speech. The participants express their disapproval on the Chief Executive or the Government of Hong Kong. The protestors also rally against the actions of Pro-Beijing lobby. A major goal of all these protesters on July 1 is to ensure that all the citizens of Hong Kong are granted universal voting rights. Protesters are often in black clothing during these marches.
Festivities and Celebrations
It is a day when the city organizes several festive activities such as dragon dances and live music to celebrate the occasion.
Fireworks Display
The city looks beautiful after the sun sets on July 1 in Victoria Harbor when a spectacular firework display on that day. Many Hong Kongers make it a point to come to the harbour area early so that they can choose a good viewpoint.
Hong Kong celebrates the HKSAR Establishment Day as a holiday to celebrate the city’s transfer of sovereignty to the People’s Republic of China from the rule of Great Britain. However, not all people in Hong Kong feel it is a day to celebrate. Several citizens in the city use this public holiday to voice their views and political opinions. However, there is also a section of the population in Hong Kong that celebrates the day because of the city’s unprecedented economic growth or in support of Chinese patriotism. It was in 1997 when the United Kingdom handed over Hong Kong to China officially. The much-publicized transition ceremony was aired on television all over the world. At the same time, the handover also triggered a series of debates about what lies ahead for this city.