22/5/1999
The Opening Ceremony

This year, for the first time in Hong Kong, Lord Buddha's Birthday is declared a public holiday by the SAR Government. To celebrate this auspicious event, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association has sought special permission from the People's Republic of China to invite the Sakyamuni Buddha's Tooth Relic to come to Hong Kong for veneration. The Buddha's Tooth Relic has now been placed at the Hong Kong Coliseum for 7 consecutive days (22-28, May) for public worship.

On 22 May at 10:30 a.m., the opening ceremony for the worship of the Tooth Relic was held. Officiating guests of honour included Mr. C. H. Tung, the Chief Executive, Mr. Zhao Puchu, President, the Buddhist Association of China, Mr. Jiang Enzhu, Director, Xinhua News Agency (Hong Kong Branch), Mr. Ye Xiaowen, Director, General of State Administration for Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Tian Henian, Deputy Director of United Front Work Department, Mr. Liu Mingqi, Deputy Director of Hongkong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, and Mr. David Lam, Secretary for Home Affairs. The guests of honour were accompanied by the Organizing Committee, Ven. Kok-kwong, the President, Lai Sze-nuen, the Vice President, Lam Hon-keung, the Secretary General, Ven. Wing-sing, the Co-ordinating Officer and Ven. Chi-wai, Deputy Co-ordinating Officer. Other guests present included govenment officials, artists and religious persons.

Following the speech by Ven. Kok-kwong and Mr. Zhao Puchu, guests of honour on the stage followed the traditional Buddha's Birthday ceremony, to bathe the Buddha's statue showing respect to Lord Buddha.

On 22 May at 8:45 a.m., Mr. P. C. Luk, Postmaster General did officiate at the service counter for "commemorative envelop and seal" for the occasion at the Hong Kong Coliseum. 26 post offices with a philately unit started providing special postmark service on that day.

At 11:00 a.m. the opening ceremony for the "2000 years of Buddhism in China" exhibition was held. The exhibition includes pictures and photographs of famous Buddhist sites and scenes from the Qin and Han Dynasties to modern times. It will be open during the worship period and will be of interest to those who are concerned with Buddhist culture and its implication on Chinese history, religion, philosophy and the arts.