When Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997, it chose a strange but beautiful flower to go on its flag. This is the story of that plant

Hong Kong is a city of contrasts: of new technology and old traditions, of high-rise buildings and stunning countryside, a hybrid between the East and the West. The territory's flag bears a flower whose past, and future, are just as complicated.

The flag of Hong Kong features a distinctive five-petalled white flower on a red background. This flower became Hong Kong's emblem when the territory was handed over to China in 1997.

But the true origin of this mysterious plant has only been revealed in recent years. It is now the subject of community conservation projects hoping to save it from extinction