Hong Kong Youth Flag Raisers Chase Their Dreams
As the morning sea breeze swept across Golden Bauhinia Square, 19-year-old Liang Guolong stood at attention alongside 1,200 Hong Kong youth in immaculately pressed uniforms, awaiting a solemn moment. At precisely 8 a.m., Liang issued the command: “Salute the national flag!” The five-starred red flag unfurled from the flag bearer’s hands, rising slowly to the national anthem led by the Hong Kong Children’s Choir.
“This honor doesn’t belong to me personally, but to the entire Hong Kong Youth Army Corps — it’s the inheritance of the spirit of our predecessors by Hong Kong youth,” Liang told Xinhua News.
A Milestone Ceremony
The May 4th Youth Day flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai marked its 20th anniversary in 2026, commemorating both the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s Long March victory and the 107th anniversary of the May 4th Movement. Approximately 1,200 youth students from uniformed teams and primary and secondary schools participated in the event, which has been held annually since 2006.
Liang, a member of the Hong Kong Youth Army Corps Honor Guard, emerged from months of rigorous selection among 19 uniformed teams across Hong Kong to become the youngest flag-raising ceremony commander in Hong Kong SAR history, as reported by Xinhua.
Dedication Through Discipline
Chinese-style marching demands precise muscular control — every turn and arm swing requires exact force and angle. Liang admitted he initially struggled to find the technique, watching instructors execute movements flawlessly while his own arms fell short. Since November, he and his teammates have trained outdoors every Friday evening or Saturday, holding ceremonial rifles for sessions ranging from two hours to full days, through heat and rain without interruption.
Seventeen-year-old Wu Juntao, from the Immigration Department Youth Leadership Group, has trained in Chinese-style marching since age 13. He failed selection twice before finally serving as a district flag bearer in 2026. Wu said the requirements in the People’s Liberation Army drill regulations were meticulous and he often fell short — until he attended training courses personally conducted by the PLA Hong Kong Garrison last year.
According to RTHK, Wu described completing his dream of serving as a flag bearer after three years of selection attempts.
The Hong Kong Flag Raising Team Association, established on July 1, 2002, has been a key force behind the ceremony. As the only uniformed youth group in Hong Kong dedicated to promoting flag-raising culture and national education, the association led the transition to Chinese-style marching, with all teams fully adopting the formation by 2023.
“This transition is not just a change in form, but a subtle and gradual education in national identity,” said Zhuang Jiabin, Chairman of the Hong Kong Youth Activities Committee and Legislative Council member, recalling that only a few teams used Chinese-style marching in 2019.
The Long March Spirit
This year’s ceremony incorporated elements of the Long March to mark its 90th anniversary. Liang recently visited Jiangxi province to retrace the Long March route, deeply moved by the Red Army’s perseverance in crossing snow-capped mountains and grasslands.
“Fear neither hardship nor fatigue; even if skin is scraped and flesh is torn, never fall behind,” Liang said, sharing the history with his teammates during training.
Zhuang emphasized that “the core of the Long March spirit is firm ideals and beliefs and an unyielding will to struggle — this is exactly the spiritual nourishment that contemporary Hong Kong youth need.” He noted that beyond local activities, the committee leads Hong Kong youth to watch flag-raising ceremonies at Tiananmen Square in Beijing each year.
Passing the Torch
Xu Huamei, participating in her third May 4th ceremony as a member of a uniformed group honor guard, expressed her pride: “As a Hong Kong youth, I feel extremely proud. I will remember the original aspiration of May 4th, inherit the Long March spirit, strive to enrich myself, and be a responsible, idealistic new-generation Hong Kong youth.”
Liang served as a flag bearer at Tsinghua University in Beijing and exchanged ideas with their honor guard. He was deeply moved watching the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, noting that the five-starred red flag embodies the patriotic hearts of Chinese people everywhere.
Wu, who has dreamed of becoming a police officer since childhood, sees the Immigration Department as Hong Kong’s “first door” — the first impression travelers get of the city. He plans to take the HKDSE next year and apply to join a disciplined service.
“Now I am a promoter, using my own spirit to influence those around me,” Wu said.
A Broader Movement
The story of these young flag raisers reflects a wider transformation in Hong Kong. Since January 1, 2022, all primary and secondary schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong are required to hold flag-raising ceremonies weekly and on designated days, as part of broader national education efforts. The Immigration Department Youth Leadership Group, established in 2013, has grown to over 1,000 members, providing discipline and leadership training for secondary school students.
The Hong Kong Flag Raising Team Association opened its new headquarters at 12 Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon in January 2026, marking a new milestone in its mission to integrate flag-raising professional education, national security education, and Chinese cultural experience, as reported by Global Times.
Liang, who began his journey as a flag bearer and rose to commander, remains committed to his mission: “We must continue to forge ahead and pass on this spirit to the new generation of youth.” It is a sentiment that echoes across the city — a promise to the next generation.