A senior central government official yesterday expressed the hope that there will be less disputes and more communications in Hong Kong society.

Liu Yandong, vice-chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and director of the United Front Work Department, called on the local community to be united and show better understanding of one another.

"Hong Kong is like a big family. Only harmony in the family can bring prosperity and enable it to make major achievements," Liu said.

She made the remark while meeting CPPCC Vice-Chairman Fok Ying Tung at his residence.

Liu flew into the city yesterday for a five-day visit. She is scheduled to officiate at the blessing ceremony of the Buddha finger-bone relic at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCE) this morning, followed by a series of meetings with representatives of the community.

Speaking of the interpretation of the Basic Law annexes by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), Liu said it aimed to put an end to the disputes over Hong Kong's constitutional development so that the SAR could better develop in the longer term.

Liu arrived at the residence of Fok in the evening, and was warmly received by him and his son Timothy Fok Chun-ting.

Liu passed on greetings from President Hu Jintao, Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin, CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin, Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and other leaders of the central government.

In a subsequent meeting with Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa at Government House, Liu wished Hong Kong, "the most brilliant pearl of the Chinese nation", all the best.

She said what the central government has done for Hong Kong, including the NPCSC interpretation of the Basic Law and the decision on Hong Kong's political development, are "for the good" of the prosperity and stability of the SAR.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Central Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong said last night that the country had yet to activate the legislation process in regard to the reunification law.

The spokesperson said speculation about the law's impact on Hong Kong was unfounded.

Many have expressed fear that the law, expected to mainly target Taiwan, will also cover Hong Kong and hamper the freedom and high degree of autonomy Hong Kong enjoys.

Meanwhile, the finger relic was flown to Hong Kong together with 20 other national treasures amid tight security yesterday. The relic will be on display at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for public worship for 10 days from today.

According to the Chairman of Hong Kong Buddhist Association, Venerable Kok Kwong, those who are able to worship the relic in person will have their mind filled with peaceful thoughts.

"This is a rare chance for both the faithful and non-Buddhists all over the world to experience the Buddha's blessing," he said.

The holy relic landed at the airport in the early afternoon. Escorted by a fleet of police vehicles, a truck decorated with lotuses carried it to the convention and exhibition centre.

Patrick Ho, Secretary for Home Affairs, received the finger relic at the airport.

Hundreds of devoted believers waited at the airport and the centre to applaud the arrival of the holy relic.

It is the third time that the relic, believed to be a bone section of Buddha's finger and one of the most sacred relics in the world, has left Famen Temple since it was untombed in 1987. The oblation and display of the relic was carried out in Thailand in 1994 and in China's Taiwan Province in 2002.

(China Daily HK Edition May 26, 2004)