HK officially commemorates victory over Japan in WWII

A commemoration marking the 69th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's war of resistance against Japanese aggression is held in Hong Kong, south China, Sept. 3, 2014. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government Wednesday held a commemoration ceremony to mark the 69th anniversary of China's victory against Japanese aggression.

The ceremony included a police band performance, a choir singing the national anthem, a police rifle squad gun salute, silence in mourning and wreath laying.

Led by Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung, about 700 people, including senior government officials, judicial officers, Legislative Council members and war veteran group representatives attended the ceremony.

Vice Chairman of China's top political advisory body Tung Chee- hwa, senior government officials, head of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Zhang Xiaoming, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong SAR Song Zhe, representatives from the People's Liberation Army Garrison in Hong Kong, were also among the attendees.

The SAR Government announced earlier that starting from this year, official ceremonies will be held on Sept 3 and Dec 13 every year to commemorate the victory of the Chinese people's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and victims who died in the Nanjing Massacre.

The decision came after the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress designated Sept 3 and Dec 13 as the Victory Day of the Chinese people's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Day.