Editor’s note: Since its establishment in 1997, China Daily Hong Kong Edition has been a witness, facilitator and contributor to the city’s dazzling economic progress, growing international influence, and stronger integration with the Chinese mainland. Let’s stroll down memory lane with CDHK by revisiting select front pages — snapshots of historical moments — to mark with CDHK the days of joy, happiness and sadness.
July 7, 1998 Airport
During a staggering overnight operation, Hong Kong’s airport — one of the world’s largest and busiest trans-shipment centers and passenger hubs — was moved from Kai Tak in Kowloon to Chek Lap Kok island and began operating as Hong Kong International Airport on July 6, 1998.
About 450 flights arrived at and departed from the new airport that day.
At 6:20 am, the new airport welcomed its first incoming flight, CX889, a Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways plane with 137 passengers arriving from New York. A British couple was lucky enough to be the first passengers to step out of the airplane. They received a grand welcome from government officials and were given a certificate that read No.000001.
June 2, 2008 Donation
In a historic move, nearly 500 showbiz celebrities from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, and Taiwan jointly staged a fundraising concert in West Kowloon on June 1, 2008, to help the Sichuan earthquake victims, and more than HK$20 million ($2.55 million) was raised.
The show kicked off with a minute’s silence and lasted for seven hours until 10 pm. Government officials went on stage, and pledged support for the victims. Hong Kong artists such as Andy Lau Tak-wah and Jackie Chan, who had visited the disaster area, shared what they had seen with the audience.
A hundred hotlines were set up to receive off-site donations. During the concert, 3,000 members of the audience each tied a yellow ribbon to one of their hands and could be heard chanting, “Go! Sichuan!”, expressing their care for their mainland compatriots.