Lingnan University Flag Guard Team joins Beijing exchange tour Beneath the national flag: witnessing youth and mission
Lingnan delegates join the "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation.
As the national anthem resonated majestically and the national flag rose gracefully, the management, faculty, and students of Lingnan University gathered on campus on 1 October to witness the solemn flag-raising ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. As the first flag guard team formed by university students in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), members of the Lingnan University Flag Guard Team demonstrated, through their upright bearing and spirited performance, their commitment to safeguarding the national flag and upholding patriotic pride. This dedication stems not only from rigorous daily discipline, but also from a meaningful visit to Beijing earlier this year.
From 18 to 22 September, The Hon Andrew Yao Cho-fai, Chairman of the Council of Lingnan University, together with Ms Irene Ng Wai-ming, Director of Student Affairs, and Ms Connie Wong Lai-chu, Associate Director of Student Affairs, led five members of the Lingnan University Flag Guard Team to join the "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation, together with over 1,300 youth representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao SARs. The delegation was jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, the Government of the Macao SAR, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality.
Dr Choi Yuk-lin (first row, third left), Secretary for Education; Ms Irene Ng Wai-ming (first row, second left), Director of Student Affairs; and Ms Connie Wong Lai-chu (first row, fourth left), Associate Director of Student Affairs, pose with five Lingnan University Flag Guard Team members in front of the Palace Museum.
The Hon Andrew Yao Cho-fai (fourth right), Chairman of the Council, poses with Lingnan representatives for a group photo at the Great Hall of the People.
Distinguished reception – a pulse of the capital
The delegation’s itinerary in Beijing was both rich and substantive, beginning with a magnificent reception at the Great Hall of the People by Mr Ding Xuexiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, reflecting the nation’s care for young people in the Hong Kong and Macao SARs. Team members were also invited to the viewing stand at Tiananmen Square to witness the solemn flag-raising ceremony, and visited the People's Liberation Army Ceremonial Escort Battalion, where they experienced first-hand the exceptional professionalism and rigour of the national honour guard.
The delegation also visited Peking University and Tsinghua University to exchange experiences with their respective flag guard teams, and toured renowned cultural and technological landmarks, including the Palace Museum and the World of Robots, gaining a comprehensive appreciation of the capital's rich historical heritage and dynamic contemporary achievements.
Tracing cultural roots through history and heritage
The trip was not merely a pilgrimage, but a journey of profound inspiration. All five participating members expressed their wish to translate the insights gained in Beijing into concrete action and to spread positive energy across campus.
Reflecting on her visit to the Palace Museum and other celebrated cultural landmarks, Chan Pui-yee (Marketing and Social Media, Year 2), who has served on the Flag Guard Team for a year, could not hide her sense of awe and pride, "It was an immense privilege to visit the Palace Museum and experience the brilliance of Chinese civilisation first-hand. I hope to share what I saw and learnt in Beijing with my fellow Flag Guard Team members, both current and future, and to encourage more young people in the Hong Kong and Macao SARs to deepen their understanding of our history and draw inspiration from these treasured artefacts. Only by understanding where we come from can we gain a clearer sense of our national identity and responsibility as sons and daughters of the Chinese nation."
Guard the national flag – stay true to our founding aspirations
Also having served on the team for a year, Li Ka-yee (Sports Coaching and Event Management, Year 4) summed up this unforgettable journey in three words, "profound, enriching, and deeply moving". She was further honoured to be Lingnan's sole student representative at an exchange seminar with Mr Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. This rare opportunity strengthened her resolve to shoulder the responsibilities of young people, “I hope to carry forward and uphold Lingnan's 'Red and Grey Spirit', to hone my skills with passion and perseverance, to keep striving for self-improvement, and to serve the nation with loyalty and dedication.”
Reflecting on her deepest takeaway from the trip, she firmly stated, “'Guard the flag, stay true to our founding aspirations, and shoulder our missions' is the motto that resonated with me most. To understand, protect, and bring glory to the national flag is a solemn pledge that every generation of young people must uphold.”
Lingnan University Flag Guard Team representatives join the Beijing visit (from left): Chan Pui-yee, second-year student of Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) in Marketing and Social Media; Li Ka-yee, fourth-year student of Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Sports Coaching and Event Management; Wang Pu, third-year student of Doctor of Policy Studies; He Pei, third-year student of Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Business Psychology; and Ma Yi-tik, second-year student of Associate Degree in History.
Nurturing talent – continuing the legacy
From the solemn gaze across Tiananmen Square to the warm exchanges within the Great Hall of the People, this visit to Beijing not only offered team members profound inspiration, but also bore witness to the growth and sense of mission of Lingnan’s youth beneath the national flag. Looking ahead, Lingnan University will continue to uphold its motto "Education for Service", striving to nurture outstanding talent with both a global outlook and a deep patriotic affection, and encouraging students to leverage their strengths and contribute to the development of both the nation and Hong Kong.
