Great Man 'makes the trip' finally
By Louise Ho (HK Edition)

Deng Xiaoping, the father of modern China, had longed to stand on the soil of Hong Kong when he was alive. But his wish was not fulfilled as he passed away just five months before Hong Kong's reunification with the motherland in July, 1997.

However, the wax figure of the great visionary was unveiled at an exhibition in the SAR to mark its 10th anniversary.

The central government has gifted the figure, which was kept in Beijing's Wax Museum for Great Men of China.

"The figure is more than an artwork. It is also an embodiment of Deng," said Zhang Molei, the figure's chief designer, at the exhibition's opening ceremony at Olympian City mall.

"Our dearest and respected Deng, you can finally stand on the soil of Hong Kong," he said.

Zhang had received many calls from Hong Kong this year "asking for the figure to be shipped to Hong Kong".

People went into raptures as the long-awaited wax figure of the great leader was unveiled.

The exhibition, featuring Deng's figure and a limousine that he took to review the army, will be open for public till July 13.

"Deng was a great visionary who had conceived the principle of 'one country, two systems' for Hong Kong," Mr Wang, a retired person, said with a deep sense of reverence. "The figure looks so real," he said.

"Although I didn't have the chance to see Deng in person, I am delighted to see his statue, which is being shown for the first time in Hong Kong."

A woman surnamed Chak came to see Deng's wax figure with her mother, after she came to know about it from the TV news.

"Hong Kong couldn't have achieved so much without Deng's vision. So I wanted to see the figure for myself."

"It's as if the great man is standing in front of me. It's just awesome," she said, completely wonderstruck.

"We Chinese are very grateful to what Deng has brought us," said Mrs Jiang from East China's Fujian.

(HK Edition 06/29/2007 page6)