HONG KONG -- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government held an official ceremony on Monday in commemoration of those who died in defending Hong Kong during the second World War.

The official ceremony was held annually on Chung Yeung (Chongyang) Festival, or the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, to commemorate more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians who died for the defense of Hong Kong against the Japanese invasion troops between 1941 and 1945.

HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang attended the ceremony at the City Hall Memorial Garden and laid a wreath.

Senior government officials, representatives from the Judiciary, the Legislative Council and the Executive Council also paid their tribute to the departed heroes at the ceremony.

They were joined by representatives of the various Central People's Government Organizations in Hong Kong, members of the concerned Consular Corps, religious leaders, community dignitaries, former members of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion, war veterans' groups, and uniformed and student groups.