‘Let us make an even greater Hong Kong contribution’: John Lee at Beijing parade

City’s largest-ever delegation to Victory Day military parade includes state leader Leung Chun-ying and a war veteran, 94-year-old Lo King-fai

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(From left) FTU chief Stanley Ng Chau-pei, veteran politician Tam Yiu-chung, Macau leader Sam Hou-fai, John Lee and Starry Lee in Tiananmen Square ahead of Wednesday’s military parade. Photo: CFP

Published: 2:17pm, 3 Sep 2025Updated: 10:49am, 4 Sep 2025

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has led 360 representatives from Hong Kong – the city’s largest-ever delegation – in attending a military parade in Beijing to mark China’s victory over Japan in World War II, while other senior officials, students and residents observed commemorative events held locally.

Former city leader Leung Chun-ying was seated at the main podium of Tiananmen Square’s gate tower for Wednesday morning’s parade. Leung is now a state leader as a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body.

The parade was held along Changan Avenue in central Beijing and lasted about 90 minutes. It was among a string of events held to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day.

Before the parade started, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of other countries, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un of North Korea, shook hands with six Chinese veterans, including 94-year-old Lo King-fai from Hong Kong.

When Xi shook hands with Lo, he called the Hong Kong veteran “an old hero”.

Lo was part of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, a guerrilla force, during the war.

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