Flag of Hong Kong

What the flag means

Ji Pengfei, chairman of the Basic Law Drafting Committee, explained the design to the National People's Congress. Red stands for the motherland and the bauhinia for Hong Kong; the stars on the petals stand for Hong Kong people's love for the motherland. Together the red and white express 'one country, two systems'.

History

A public contest from 1987 to 1988 drew 7,147 submissions. The Chinese government rejected all six finalists and asked the architect Tao Ho, one of the judges, and two others for new proposals. The National People's Congress adopted the design on 4 April 1990, and the flag was first raised just after midnight on 1 July 1997.

The Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance controls how the flag may be used and makes desecrating it an offence.

Earlier flags of Hong Kong

1. 1870–1876Blue Ensign with a white crown badge
2. 1876–1959Blue Ensign with a badge showing a local scene
3. 1959–1997Blue Ensign with the coat of arms granted in 1959

Flags of Hong Kong's neighbours

• China