The Golden Bauhinia

     This afternoon I set out to find a site that many mainland Chinese tourists consider an essential visit if they come to Hong Kong Island.  At right is the Forever Blooming Bauhinia, a 20' statue of the flower that's the emblem of Hong Kong.  You can just barely see this emblem on the Hong Kong flag flying on the left; the flag of the People's Republic of China is on the right.  This statue is located on Victoria Harbor in front of the Hong Kong Exhibition Center.  It was a gift from the People's Republic of China to Hong Kong, presented on July 1, 1997, when Great Britain handed over Hong Kong to China.  Note the Great Wall motif at the bottom of the red granite pedestal, holding up this gold-plated, forever-blooming orchid...no subtle symbols here.    This statue site is actually a bit out of the way, and my guess is that more than a few Hong Kongers like it that way.