HONG KONG, July 1-- A flag-raising ceremony was held at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai on Wednesday morning to celebrate the 18th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.

Flanked by his wife Regina and the former Chief Executive Tung Chee-wah, Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung attended the ceremony, where head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Zhang Xiaoming was also present.

During the ceremony, an honor guard of police officers in white tunics took the national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to the two flag poles where they were hoisted to the national anthem.

Government Flying Service helicopters provided a simultaneous fly-past over the harbor, where fire boats had turned on their hoses in celebration, sending arcs of water into the air.

Despite the hot weather, hundreds of Hong Kong people witnessed the solemn ceremony.

CY Leung said at a later reception that although constitutional reform took up a considerable part of the SAR government's time and efforts over the past year, the government did not overlook its work to boost the economy and improve the livelihood of Hong Kong people.

"Notable developments over the past year include the official launch of Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, the mutual recognition of funds between the mainland and Hong Kong, with effect from Wednesday, and the early realization of basic liberalization of trade in services between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province," Leung said.

He added that Hong Kong will continue to serve as a bridge between Chinese mainland and the rest of the world in the emerging"Belt and Road" initiative.

"Our world-class trading, logistics, business and professional services and financial sectors can play the triple roles of investor, intermediary and supporter," Leung said.