29/5/1999
Ceremony for the Return of The Buddha's Tooth Relic

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 was placed at the Hong Kong Coliseum for 7 consecutive days (22-28, May) for public worship.

During the veneration period from 22-28 May at the Hong Kong Coliseum, free tickets were available at the Hong Kong Buddhist Association. Totally, the Organizing Committee issued 280,000 tickets for admission of Holy Tooth's Worship.

On 29th May at 8:00am., Ven. Kok-kwong started the "Completion" ceremony for the event in the hope to bring prosperity to Hong Kong.

When the Ceremony finished, the Holy Tooth Relic was loaded to the festooned vehicle, while the farewell party of faithful, guards of honour bearing incense banners, lanterns forming a procession. With 20 Police motor-cycles and 2 Police cars as an escort, the Buddha's Tooth Relic was carried to the Hong Kong International Airport, and departed for Beijing in a chartered flight.

To review the activities held in May for the Celebration of Lord Buddha's Birthday, they were: -

1. School competition including Essays Competition, Buddha's Birthday Card Design Contest, Singing Contest and Quiz Contest and a Open Competition for Photography.
2. The "midnight chime" was another highlight of the Buddha's Birthday celebration. Bells in all Buddhist establishments struck at the beginning of 22nd May (8th Day of the 4th moon in the lunar calendar) and the faithful prayed together in welcoming Lord Buddha's Birthday.
3. Celebrations on a district basis for Lord Buddha's Birthday were held all over Hong Kong in ten districts. The ceremony included pouring water over the Buddha's Statue.
4. The Organizing Committe also launched a "Vegetarian-Campaign" while the citizens would like to try the vegetarian dishes during the celebration period, and dined out in restaurants and hotels.
5. "2000 years of Buddhism in China" exhibition was well received. It is a collection of over 300 pictures, depicting important scenes of 2,000 years of Buddhism in China, from the Qing and Han Dynasties to modern times.
6. To commemorate this very special occasion, Souvenir Covers were produced for the celebration. The response was overwhelming as all covers now sold out.

The Buddha's Tooth Relic is not only a historical relic, it is also a national treasure and an holy object. It is valuable as symbol of the Dharma, the ultimate truth taught by Lord Buddha. There were 280,000 admission tickets issued to the public. As the turn up rate was so high, an estimation of 300,000 partcipants went to the Coliseum for the worship, prayers and chanting prayers.