- 3.
The opening ceremony also featured a parade by community groups from Hong Kong's 18 districts, a fly-past, a car procession and a flotilla.
The various elements of the opening ceremony symbolised the land, sea and air components -- highways, tunnels, reclamations, bridges and the airport -- of the $156.4 billion Airport Core Programme.
The ceremony began at 6 pm on the Tsing Yi side of the Lantau Link, with performances by bands from the Royal Hong Kong Police and the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police. The parade by the district community groups, with about 1,100 people taking part, then got underway.
Each community group gave a short performance before the assembled guests, the performances ranging from lion, dragon and folk dancing to choir singing, school band music and acrobatic cycling.
During the parade, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft of the Government Flying Service and helicopters of the Royal Air Force staged a fly-past, flying in three formations, and approaching the Lantau Link from two different directions--west and south.
The flotilla of about 75 boats was positioned in a restricted area just south of the Tsing Ma Bridge. The vessels taking part represented a broad cross section of the marine community -- from ferries, jetfoils, catamarans, tugs, barges, fishing boats and launches to various types of boats from Government departments. Horns and sirens were sounded and fireboats and tugs sprayed fountains of water into the air. Two Royal Navy patrol vessels were stationed nearby as part of the flotilla.
After giving their speeches, Baroness Thatcher and Mr Patten were joined by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Mrs Anson Chan, in pulling a lever to light up the entire Lantau Link -- providing a spectacular line of lighting stretching from Tsing Yi Island to the northeast tip of Lantau Island. At the same time, laser beams added to the effect of the lighting display.
After the lighting up, Baroness Thatcher and Mr Patten boarded the Governor's car, broke through a ribbon stretched across the open upper deck of the Tsing Ma Bridge and drove across the full length of the Lantau Link.
They were followed by a convoy of more than 30 vehicles carrying members of the officiating party and guests including mayoral representatives of several overseas cities that have landmark bridges and contractors representatives. Decorated vehicles provided by international and local groups and donors to the Community Chest joined in the procession.