On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's birth which falls on Aug. 22, Hong Kong staged different kinds of activities to mark the event, and celebrities aired their respect and dear memories for the great man, known as the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up drive.

Photo exhibition held by the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce put on show more than 100 pictures featuring Deng, with a view to helping the audience recall Deng's life and career. Chairman of the chamber Wong Chi Hung noted that the "One Country, Two Systems" concept initiated by Deng has enabled the Hong Kong people to enjoy all kinds of rights and freedom, as well as their lifestyle after 1997 when China resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

Seminar sponsored by the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association attracted more than 300 entrepreneurs. During the seminar, Hong Kong's Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung commented that "One Country, Two Systems", which represents the great wisdom of the Chinese, has solved historical problems relating Hong Kong.

She briefed the participants on the seven-year implementation of the concept in Hong Kong, and pointed out that it's of great significance to explore the success of the concept on the 100th anniversary of Deng's birth.

Local TV stations Asia Television Limited and Television Broadcasts Limited both put on screen documentary programs to retrospect Deng's entire life and his great contributions to Hong Kong and to the development of China as a whole. Sales volume of books on Deng Xiaoping also witnessed an increase recently.

With the advent of the great event, celebrities spoke on different occasions to air their respect and dear memories for the great man, especially those who had met Deng in person.

Executive Director of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute Shiu Sin Por noted that Hong Kong's smooth return to the motherland is one of the great accomplishments of Deng, which constitutes the cornerstone of Hong Kong's development, stability and prosperity.

The well-known Chinese writer Louis Cha praised Deng as the person he admired most, which was, in his eyes, even better than the heroes he created in his swordsmen fictions. He still remembered clearly such details as Deng lighted the cigarette for him when they first met in 1981 in Beijing, and eyed the late Chinese leader as an amicable man with wisdom and humor.

Hong Kong's richest man Li Ka-shing, in an interview with the local newspaper, said he had great confidence in the future of Hong Kong, which will be best proven by the further increase of his companies' investment in Hong Kong in the coming years.

Li noted that the reform and opening-up policies put forward by Deng have benefited the people in the mainland as well as residents in Hong Kong. Hong Kong maintaining stability and prosperity, and Hong Kong people' great confidence in its future, were both attributable to Deng's wisdom and far-sightedness, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2004)