HK exhibition honours Deng Xiaoping
By Tonny Chan (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-08-27 02:02

An exhibition marking the birth centenary of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping was inaugurated at a high-profile ceremony in Hong Kong Thursday.

The exhibition opens to the public today and will run until September 4.

Deng Nan, daughter of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, talks with Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and tycoon Li Ka-shing at Thursday's opening ceremony. [newsphoto]

Top officials recalled at the ceremony how Deng's "one country, two systems" concept had become the cornerstone of Hong Kong's success.

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said that thanks to the "one country, two systems" concept, Hong Kong has been able to overcome many adversities since 1997.

"Thanks to the implementation of `one country, two systems' in Hong Kong, we have remained politically and socially stable," Tung told the audience.

He said since reunification, the concept of "one country, two systems" had become everyday reality.

Hong Kong's irreplaceable position as an international financial, information, trade and services centre has been strengthened to promote the country's development, he said.

Deng Nan, a daughter of late leader Deng Xiaoping, wipes tears while recalling her father's life story in Hong Kong August 26, 2004. She was speaking at the opening ceremony of an exhibition marking the birth centenary of Deng Xiaoping. [newsphoto]

Deng Nan, one of Deng's daughters, said her father had immense love for Hong Kong because it was part of the Chinese territory.

"As a patriot, he just could not allow colonialism to continue in Hong Kong. He devoted all of his energy to reunification, and hoped that a Hong Kong governed by Hong Kong people would be more prosperous than the one governed by the colonists," she said.

Deng had most wanted to visit Hong Kong after its reunification with the motherland.

"But he could not wait until that day. He asked his ash be spread across the sea so that he could, along with the waves, embrace the motherland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan," she said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, said "one country, two systems" was consistent with the history and reality of Hong Kong.

Security staff guard a statue of Deng Xiaoping during the exhibition on Deng's 100th birthday in Hong Kong August 26, 2004. [newsphoto]

Hundreds of dignitaries also attended the ceremony including Henry Fok, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng and Wang Jitang, commander of the Hong Kong Garrison of People's Liberation Army.

Many of the exhibits -- over 230 historic photographs and over 80 items including Deng's personal belongings -- are being displayed in Hong Kong for the first time, said Pan Zhenzhou of the National Museum of China.

A bust of Deng made of gold and diamonds will also be presented today to Deng's daughters, Deng Lin, Deng Nan and Deng Rong.

Admission to the exhibition, which is being held in the lower block of China Resources Building in Wan Chai, is free.

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