A tram with a painting using the theme "Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China and 24th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland," runs through Central District, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, on Tuesday. Photo: VCG

 Festive vibes fill Hong Kong with a week away from the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and also the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, which some local residents see as unprecedented, as it would also be the first time in Hong Kong to celebrate the birthday of the CPC on such an open and large scale. 

June 30 also marks the first anniversary of the national security law for Hong Kong. Buses and trams in the Chinese special administrative region (SAR) have "put on new suits" in red, featuring CPC elements to celebrate the big day. 

They carry the slogan "Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC, and the 24th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland."

Also, the Hong Kong Celebration Association will hold activities on July 1, including a light show at Victoria Harbor. People can enjoy the show without buying tickets.

Chan Yung, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), told the Global Times on Wednesday that this year's anniversary will be a turning point for Hong Kong, as it is the first time that the city will celebrate the CPC's anniversary so openly and grandly.

In the past, the CPC was a sensitive term for some people in Hong Kong. But now, the CPC has become a term representing positive energy, and it will become even more familiar to Hong Kong residents, Chan noted.

Some residents in Hong Kong shared with the Global Times on Wednesday their feeling that the streets in the city are filled with a joyous atmosphere of love for the motherland and Hong Kong. They said they are proud to be Chinese. 

Several said that since the national security law for Hong Kong took effect, they felt reassured, as the small number of Hong Kong separatists dared not to make chaos, considering the deterrence of the law. Activities including lectures and movie promotions to share the CPC's history should have been staged earlier in the city, as some lack an understanding of the CPC, which has successfully led China from poverty to the second-largest economy in the world.

"Either in an official or non-official way, Hong Kong authorities have not held any CPC-related activities in the past, and there were very few activities for understanding the Party," Victor Chan Chi-ho, vice chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Young Commentators, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

As an SAR of China, Hong Kong has the same responsibility to tell the story of the CPC, and activities including expositions, conferences and CPC-related films are welcomed by the public, he noted. 

"July 1 is not only the anniversary of the return to the motherland but also the anniversary of the founding of the CPC, so the celebrations should be held annually in the future, which will help local residents have a deeper understanding of the achievements of the CPC," Chan said. 

Jane Cheung, who works in Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Wednesday that she plans to go to the cinema to watch 1921, a film dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, which is scheduled to be released in the city in July. Cheung noted that on July 1, she looks forward to enjoying the light show at Victoria Harbor from the window of her office.

Hoffman Ma Ho-man, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and member of the Hong Kong Culture Association, told the Global Times that in the past, it was a bit embarrassing for some locals to talk about the CPC due to their lack of understanding of the Party. 

The national security law for Hong Kong and the electoral reform helped bring back stability to the city, following months of black-clad riots instigated by anti-government parties and external forces. 

Due to the lack of understanding of the CPC, anti-government figures in Hong Kong - including the secessionist newspaper Apple Daily - have been using the tactic of demonizing the Party in order to arouse fear or even hatred toward the Chinese mainland, creating deeper divergences between Hong Kong residents and those in the mainland. 

As the political environment in Hong Kong has largely evolved, Leung Chun-ying, former chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR government, said that "We need to tell Chinese stories well, and also tell CPC stories well, including how under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese government got back Hong Kong from its former colonial government and also its Hong Kong policies," according to a Shenzhen TV interview released on Wednesday.   

More and more patriots in the city have realized that the key to inspiring national confidence and sense of pride in being a Chinese is to promote the CPC's 100-year history -- the fastest-growing period for the city and the whole country -- to Hong Kong residents, Ma said, noting that he is excited to see the grand celebrations in the city.

Tang Fei, a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, held similar views, saying that the CPC finally can enjoy the celebration of its birthday in the city openly, which can ensure a correct understanding of the fact that the CPC is the only ruling Party of China, and Hong Kong SAR is part of China.

Holding the celebrations can not only promote locals' understanding of the Party and help implement education regarding national security in earnest, but also maintain political security in the city, Tang said.