About 40,000 people joined a joyful parade of dragon dancers and a marching symphony orchestra yesterday in Hong Kong as the city marked the 12th anniversary of its return to the motherland.

The parade kicked off after the Chinese national flag and the flag of the special administrative region (SAR) were raised at a morning ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai. The ceremony was attended by government officials and hundreds of local residents and tourists.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said yesterday that Hong Kong has full confidence to revitalize its economy and combat the flu pandemic amid growing challenges.

Story: Zhou Shanshan | Editor: Ren Cong | Video: CCTV