Flags at half-mast for quake victims


Flags at half-mast for quake victims
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/20/content_8213667.htm

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-20 14:22:44 Print








Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China


China's national flag flies at half-mast after the flag-raising ceremony on
Tian'anmen Square in Beijing Monday morning, May 19, 2008. China on Monday
begins a three-day national mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed
in a powerful earthquake which struck the country's southwest on May 12. (Xinhua
Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>



BEIJING, May 20 -- Chinese flags are now flying at half-mast, and all public
recreational activities have been suspended as the country begins its three days
of mourning.

At 4:58 a.m., the national flag at Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing was
lowered to half-mast.

Over 2,500 people came out for the moment. Most wore white, blue and black,
traditional colors of mourning in China.

The flag is flying at half-mast at the seat of the central government at the
Xinhuamen, as well as at all ministries, committees and administrative
departments.

This is the ceremony at the Foreign Ministry. Similar scenes took place at
other institutions, including the People's Bank of China and the Customs Office.
Some places chose to lower the flag at the stroke of midnight on Monday, such as
Liaoning and Shandong provinces, Shanghai municipality, Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region and the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions are also flying the
flag at half-mast.

All government offices and schools in the SARs will continue to do so for
the 3 days of national mourning. Government employees there stood in silence for
three minutes at 2:28 p.m. on Monday. Public recreational activities are also
suspended.

Monday marks the seventh day after the quake. According to Chinese
tradition, memorial ceremonies on the seventh day are especially important. They
were believed to help grant the dead a better afterlife.

(Source: cctv.com)




Editor: Liu Dan


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