Local and mainland dignitaries on Saturday attended a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square as part of celebrations marking the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Chief Executive John Lee and his wife were in attendance, along with his principal officers and members of the Executive Council. They were joined by former chief executives Carrie Lam, CY Leung and Donald Tsang.

The guests stood as the flag party marched into the venue in Wan Chai.

Liaison Office director Zheng Yanxiong, and Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, were among the senior mainland officials in attendance.

They watched as the national and SAR flags were raised while the national anthem was sung, before helicopters carrying the two flags flew past and ships sprayed a water salute.

The Liaison Office also held a flag-raising ceremony an hour before the proceedings in Wan Chai.