Over a thousand Buddhist monks and 30,000 Hong Kong residents gathered Wednesday in a soccer stadium here for a benediction ceremony to pray for world peace and Hong Kong's prosperity in the new year.

The "Ten Thousand People's Benediction Ceremony for Peace & Prosperity of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)," which started at 9:00 a.m., was hosted by Venerable Kok Kwong, president of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association.

In his new year message, Kok Kwong said he believed that with the support from the Central People's Government and the efforts of Hong Kong citizens, the HKSAR will have a better and brighter future.

China's booming economy will provide excellent opportunities for Hong Kong's development and help Hong Kong to tackle the various challenges it faces, he said.

Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the HKSAR, Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and Ji Peiding, commissioner of the Foreign Ministryin the HKSAR, also attended the ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2003)