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

The free exhibition opens to the public today and will run until September 4 in the lower block of China Resources Building in Wan Chai.

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.

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

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

"As a patriot, he just could not allow colonialism to continue in Hong Kong," she said.

"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 colonialists."

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.

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

(China Daily August 27, 2004)