T/I: 10:10:00 Last-minute preparations are underway in Hong Kong for the historic change of sovereignty on Monday 30th June. Security is also being stepped up across the territory for the arrival of thousands of VIPs coming to watch the final ceremonies. There are more police on the streets and bolstered security at all public buildings. In the Press and Broadcasting Centre (PBC) all media are being rigorously checked before being allowed to enter. The PBC is in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where an extension has been specially built for the final handover ceremony just before midnight on June 30th. The sunset farewell ceremony at the British military base looks set to be fittingly sombre but will also feature dance performances with both an eastern and western flavour. Hundreds of the children on Wednesday (25/6) held one of their last dress rehearsals before the gala performance on Monday before 4,000 guests. One of the live spots for thousands of journalists is on the roof of The Academy of Performing Arts (APA). The building has an excellent view of Hong Kong's spectacular waterfront skyline. SHOWS: HONG KONG. 25 JUNE, 1997 Aerial of Hong Kong waterfront; Aerial of convention centre extension; WS convention centre; interior convention centre extension; Police in small boat checking area around convention centre; police security around convention centre; police erecting barriers; police checking identification cards; police searching shrubbery; SOT policeman, in English: "We search the whole of this area, the building, this hotel, the area over there, anywhere where the vistors or the dignitaries might have access"; WS "tamar" site of the farewell ceremony; man working; 20/06: VS dancers rehearsing; SOT Richard Collinson, Event Producer, in English: "Well the tone is going to be quite intimate. This is very much a military occasion so there will be ceremony but we've tried to invite as much of the civilian populace as possible because its very much a joint venture. The East meets West theme is but it works well with this show because it is very much a joint venture, saying goodbye to Britain"; WS interior press centre; VS press centre; SOT Philip Soden, Manager at Academy of Performing Arts (the press will use the academy for live spots) "We've had to build fences, put generators in for the lighting, lay thousands of metres of cable. It's extraordinary for an event that lasts just a couple of days". VS press technicians working on roof of academy; satellite dish; 2.59 You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/b3adcfb2173b530e9d6cfc46ede10407 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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