The Hong Kong flag.
The Hong Kong flag is red.
The Hong Kong flag's background colour is like the flag of China. No coincidence.
The Flag of China.
On the flag of Hong Kong, the white pattern is the orchid, symbol of Hong Kong.
A large model of the orchid is in the square.
The Hong Kong Orchid in Hong Kong on the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.
Every day, if you get up early, at 8.30 am you can see the flag raising ceremony and hear the national anthem.
Wiki usefully explains:
Enhanced Flag Raising Ceremony (on the 1st of every month, except July and October) and the Special Flag Raising Ceremony (1 July and 1 October).
The daily ceremony includes regular attire and includes the playing of the national anthem, while the enhanced ceremony includes a flag-raising party of Hong Kong police officers, accompanied by a rifle unit all in ceremonial dress, and also includes the playing of the national anthem by the Police Band followed by a 10-minute musical performance by the Police Pipe Band.[2]
Since July 2008, on the second Sunday of each month, the flag raising ceremony is conducted by different local youth uniformed groups (UGs). The UGs conduct the daily flag raising ceremony (i.e. the flag party consists of five members: one commander, two national flag raisers and two regional flag raisers) without a band performance.
The monument is outside the Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Hong Kong language is Cantonese.
Wan Chai is on the north shore of Hong Kong Island.
At the time of writing, Feb 2020, Hong Kong has been off limits for many tourists. (See wikivoyage for update and your country's government advice to travellers.)
As it is part of China, and in the region, the corona virus is also a concern to travellers. However, even if one's next trip has to be postponed for a while, as armchair travellers, it is a delight to learn about the flags and sights of another country.
Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Bauhinia_Square
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wan_Chai
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Hong_Kong
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Singapore
Duolingo has Chinese (Mandarin) rather than Cantonese but it is still a help.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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