Today is Constitution Day and as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Constitution, the Security Bureau held a flag raising ceremony to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Constitution at the Hong Kong Customs College.

The bureau led its six disciplined services, the youth groups under various disciplined and auxiliary services, and other youth uniformed groups to hold the flag raising ceremony.

The disciplined services band conducted a military tattoo at the start of ceremony, followed by a march-in by nine youth groups.

The disciplined services ceremonial guard and the flag party marched into the venue using the Chinese-style foot drill and conducted the flag-raising ceremony during the playing and singing of the national anthem and a fly-past by a Government Flying Service helicopter.

The flag party then lowered the flags at half-mast and all participants observed a moment of silence to mourn the passing of former President of the People's Republic of China Jiang Zemin.

Addressing the ceremony, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said the Constitution is the root and origin of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and serves as its constitutional base.

He noted that the flag-raising ceremony on Constitution Day carries special significance as this year marks the 40th anniversary of both the promulgation and implementation of the current Constitution and the establishment of the special administrative region system.

Mr Lam encouraged teenagers to cultivate good qualities of understanding and respecting the Constitution as well as upholding the rule of law and abiding by the law.

In addition to setting up an education zone at the event venue for guests and participants to visit, the bureau organised a photo competition for teenagers to express their reflections on Constitution Day to strengthen their sense of belonging towards the country.

Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and heads of disciplined services, auxiliary services and youth groups presented prizes to winners of the competition.