In a first, temple stages flag-raising ceremony

The national flag was hoisted yesterday at the popular Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple - the first time religious premises conducted a flag-raising ceremony in Hong Kong.

The temple will also hold flag-raising ceremonies on July 1 and on National Day on October 1.

Ritual priests marched to the terrace behind the flag-raising team sent by the Hong Kong Adventure Corps.

The temple said the terrace was to built "promote Chinese culture and display our patriotism."

Liaison Office deputy director Tan Tieniu, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to the close-loop arrangement in preparation for handover events, said in a letter: "Flying the national flag above the Wong Tai Sin Temple shows Sik Sik Yuen's firm stand of loving the country and Hong Kong, which means a lot to cultivating citizens' sense of the nation and promoting patriotic education."

Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee said in a video message: "I am glad to see Wong Tai Sin Temple's love for the country and Hong Kong at such a historic moment."

Police, meanwhile, are looking into at least four cases of national flags being stolen or damaged at public housing estates over the weekend.

The force said two national flags were stolen and 12 were defiled at Kam Shek House and Lam Shek House of Ping Shek Estate in Kwun Tong. Flags adorn the building for the handover.

Some of the flags had black stains on the big yellow star.

Police listed the case as desecrating the national flag and theft. It is being investigated by the Kwun Tong District crime division. No one has been arrested so far.

Similar cases also happened in other public housing estates decorated with national and Hong Kong flags.

Three national flags and eight Hong Kong flags were stolen in Sheung Fu House in Upper Ngau Tau Kok Estate, Ho Man Tin.

A string linking the national and Hong Kong flags was found to be cut in the same estate.

Two national flags and a Hong Kong flag were found burned in San Man House of Oi Man Estate. Police believed that the cause of the fire was suspicious. No arrests have been made.

Flag defilers face up to three years in jail.

leopold.chen@singtaonewscorp.com