HK, Macao students head to Beijing for 5-day youth exchange

"This is a day every Chinese must remember," she said. "It reminds us that weakness invites aggression, and that unity is the source of strength."

"That's why we should treasure our country's hard-won development today and better appreciate what the national flag represents."

On the five-days trip, students will meet the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, visit the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China, tour local schools in Beijing, and survey state-of-the-art urban developments like Shougang Park— a high-end industrial services zone — along with several Chinese technology companies.

Choi said the trip would help students grasp the country's remarkable achievements in economic growth and urban planning.

"Seize every rare opportunity, watching and recording with care," Choi told students. "Fathom the history and responsibility behind our national flag and deepen your knowledge and sense of belonging to the country."

Silvia Chan, a fourth-year international relations student at City University of Hong Kong, is among the participants. She said she was "very excited for the trip", as she had heard that some of the sites and activities on the itinerary are being opened to Hong Kong students for the first time.