A 100-meter-long hada which carries the fervent wishes of 2.5 million people of all nationalities from all walks of life in Tibet, has recently been passed along from the square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa into villages, farmhouses, pastures and tents in Tibet. Wherever it reached, people all halted to sign their names on it, wishing for a success in Beijing's bidding to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

This hada, as reported, will bear signatures of over 10,000 people in Tibet in both Chinese and Tibetan and is to be delivered to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bid Committee (BOBICO) in early February.

Qabai Cedain Pungyai, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Region's People's Congress, also a noted expert in Tibet studies, told reporters that China has made remarkable advancements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. In the meantime, epoch-making changes have also taken place in Tibet, which used to be an impoverished and backward region in the past. And he also expressed his heartfelt wishes for Beijing's success in the bidding for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Gonpu, who, aged 68, conquered the Mt. Qomolangma in 1960 as the first Tibetan mountaineer, said: "I pay close attention to the progress of Beijing's Olympic bid everyday through news. And I sincerely wish Beijing will be successful in the bidding for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games so that I can see it being held in our capital in my life. I believe that China is capable of hosting the Olympic Games as China has successfully hosted many international games such as the Asian Games.

The Vice Chairman of the Chinese Buddhism Association as well as the permanent vice chairman of its Tibetan Chapter also expressed his best wishes to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and the people of the whole world by way of hosting the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Cedain Doje, Chairman of the Tibetan Folk Arts Association said that the rumors spread abroad by Dalai Lama and his clique shows that he's afraid of a prosperous and strong China and Dailai's scheme of separatism will get nowhere. On behalf of more than 400 members of the two associations he also expressed his best wishes for Beijing's success in the bidding for the Olympic Games.

Besides, over 20 lamas from the Jokhang Temple signed their names on the hada too.

(People's Daily 01/18/01)