Hong Kong's top officials and community leaders gathered together on Thursday at a ceremony celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

The ceremony, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai by the Hong Kong Celebrations Association, launched a series of activities, including a fishing boat parade and a light show at Victoria Harbor.

Speaking at the ceremony, Acting Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the "one country, two systems" principle designed by the central government and the Party is a pioneering system that enables the smooth return of Hong Kong to the motherland.

Noting the positive outcomes of the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the electoral reform, Lee said the two major milestones showed the central government's commitment to implementing the "one country, two systems" principle, as well as the Party's confidence in the strengths of the principle.

Chen Dong, deputy chief of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said the hope for Hong Kong and the motherland to have a brighter future has always been a common aspiration of Hong Kong residents, citing that many people on Thursday raised national flags and sang the national anthem spontaneously to express their passion for the nation.

"With the Party's leadership and the nation as a strong backer, as well as the successful practice of 'one country, two systems', our compatriots in Hong Kong special administrative region will share both the historic responsibility of national rejuvenation and the pride of a strong and prosperous China", Chen said.

Also officiating at the ceremony were deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR He Jing, deputy head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Li Jiangzhou, the Foreign Ministry's commissioner in the Hong Kong SAR Liu Guangyuan, Commander-in-chief of the Hong Kong Garrison Chen Daoxiang, and the political commissar of the Hong Kong Garrison Cai Yongzhong.

Around 600 guests from all walks of life in Hong Kong attended the event.