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CE joins flag handover ceremony

Chief Executive Carrie Lam attended the 14th National Games closing ceremony in Xi'an and joined its flag handover ceremony today.   The closing ceremony was held at the Xi'an Olympic Center Stadium, during which Premier Li Keqiang announced the conclusion of the games.   The flag handover ceremony took place after the games' flag was lowered. The flag was then passed to Mrs Lam, Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui and Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng who represent the joint hosts of the 15th National Games.   Mrs Lam thanked the central government for its trust and support to allow Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau to host the next National Games together.   She said: "Sports carry the power of encouraging and uniting people.   "The National Games is a major sports event with the highest level and largest scale in the nation. The hosting of the event will significantly boost the promotion of sports development in Hong Kong."   The Chief Executive also pointed out that Hong Kong hosted the 2009 East Asian Games and organises various international sports events every year.   She noted that with the Kai Tak Sports Park to be commissioned in 2023, the Hong Kong Velodrome and other sports facilities, Hong Kong can make full use of its establishments to host events of the 15th National Games.   The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will work closely with relevant ministries of the central government, Guangdong and Macau to carry out the preparatory work and follow the central authorities' requirement of simple, safe and wonderful in conducting the games, she added.   During her visit in Xi'an, Mrs Lam and Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui visited the Daming Palace National Heritage Park to view its work on the conservation, restoration and display of relics and archaeological sites.   They also visited an education hub run by Xi'an Qinhua Gas Group to learn more about Hong Kong enterprises' participation in the urban gas business in the country's northwest region and their business operations in Shaanxi.   Mrs Lam encouraged Hong Kong companies to continue to give full play to their advantages in modern service industries to grasp the opportunities brought about by Shaanxi's development of a modern industry system, thereby contributing to the establishment of a vital economic hub with national influence in the province and bring mutual benefits to the economies of the two places.   The Chief Executive will return to Hong Kong via Shenzhen tomorrow.
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