Hong Kong will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with a host of festivities on October 1.

At 8am, a flag raising ceremony will be held at Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and about 3,000 guests, including lawmakers, consuls, dignitaries and members of the disciplined services will attend. The public are also welcome to watch the ceremony at a designated area. The event will be broadcast live on radio and television.

The National Day reception will follow at 8.30am in the convention centre, with Mr Tung hosting a reception for thousands of invited guests.

National anthem to grace the airwaves

Secretary for Home Affairs Dr Patrick Ho will join Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education and Commission on Youth members to launch a TV announcement of public interest titled Our Home, Our Country. The announcement has for the first time adopted the national anthem as background music.

The day will climax with a fireworks spectacular at 8pm. Sponsored by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the 23-minute display will light up the sky over Victoria Harbour. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to be drawn to the waterfront and other vantage points.

People planning to join national day celebrations should follow the advice of Police at the scene, and obey special traffic arrangements.

Other activities will include a carnival at the Tamar site in Admiralty on October 1, a variety show at the Coliseum on October 2, and a display of the 18 winning entries of a district bunting design competition at Penfold Park, Sha Tin, on October 3.