Hong Kong has sent its largest-ever commemorative delegation to Beijing to mark China’s victory over Japan in World War II at a highly anticipated military parade, while the city will also host a series of events.

Delegation members, including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his wife, Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim, finance minister Paul Chan Mo-po, police chief Joe Chow Yat-ming and lawmaker Kingsley Wong Kwok, were seen entering the city’s airport at around 8am on Tuesday.

Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, now a state leader as a vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body, was also among the delegates.

Events for the 80th anniversary of Victory Day include a commemorative rally and the military parade on Wednesday morning, followed by a cultural gala in the evening, according to the government. Delegation members are expected to return home the next day.

“[The installations] not only showcase the national spirit of struggle but also demonstrate the prosperity and innovation of the motherland in the new era,” she said.