Fireworks sparkle over Victoria Harbour during a grand pyrotechnics display to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on Saturday evening. ROY LIU/CHINA DAILY

President Xi Jinping's three-day visit to Hong Kong ended on a high note on July 1. He attended a gathering to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and swore in the new Chief Executive and principal officials of the fifth-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

By the end of his visit, Xi had inspired a note of optimism in the city's residents and a spirit of confidence in its new government.

This was Xi's first visit to Hong Kong as president. On Thursday, June 29, the mood was of happy congeniality as Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan walked out of the plane that had just touched down at Hong Kong International Airport to be greeted most enthusiastically by young people, Hong Kong's top public office-bearers and other dignitaries.

The president was on a tight schedule, attending 20 events across the city. He met a wide variety of the local people, from different walks of life and across all age groups.

Early on the morning of Friday, June 30, the president inspected the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison at Shek Kong Barracks, while Peng visited an elderly care center in Southern District, Hong Kong Island, where she had lively interaction with some of the senior residents.

The president then met young people during his visit to the new Junior Police Call Permanent Activity Centre in Pat Heung. He urged the city's youths to choose the right path in serving Hong Kong and the nation.

On Saturday, July 1, Xi inaugurated the new administration headed by Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the city's first female Chief Executive. Later he witnessed the signing of an agreement between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to facilitate closer cross-boundary collaboration in developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.