Hong Kong Police march in British military style at Ceremonial Opening of Legal Year, 13 Jan 2020

Описание: Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year of 2020 held at Hong Kong City Hall on 13 January 2020

The ceremony took place at 5 pm. The parade continues the British tradition of marking the start of the legal year with a military parade. Before the handover to China in 1997 the guard of honour was mounted by the British Army. The inspection of the British Army ceremonial guard by the Chief of Justice was meant to signify that the even the military was subject to the rule of law.

The Chief Justice of the Final Court of Appeal, Geoffrey Ma, inspected a ceremonial guard mounted by the Hong Kong Police Force at Edinburgh Place in front of City Hall. Hong Kong judges and magistrates viewed the ceremony in their wigs and gowns from the front of City Hall. The Hong Kong Police performed British military style drill with commands given in English and the Pipes and Drums played British military music. The Guard of Honour was carrying American AR15 rifles with bayonets fixed. From 2021 the Hong Kong Police adopted Chinese People’s Liberation Army style drill including goose stepping.

The parade was followed by speeches in City Hall from the Chief Justice, the Secretary for Justice, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association and the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong.