HONG KONG, May 26(Xinhuanet)-- A grand ceremony was held at HongKong Convention and Exhibition Center Wednesday for veneration of Buddha's sarira (finger bone relic).

Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Liu Yandong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and some other central government and HKSAR officials attended the ceremony.

Tung Chee Hwa said,"On behalf of the HKSAR government and the people of Hong Kong, I express heartfelt gratitude to the central government for granting special permission for the Buddha's finger relic from Famen Temple in Shaanxi, along with 20 super national treasures, to be displayed in Hong Kong."

Local Buddhist followers and, indeed, all citizens are privileged to have this rare opportunity to see such sacred and precious assets, he added.

He said, today's welcoming ceremony for the relic and other treasures is not only a gala event for the Buddhist community, but also a good deed advocating peace, virtues and social harmony in Hong Kong.

Kok Kwong, chairman of Hong Kong Buddhist Association, said at the ceremony that today is Buddha's birthday, Hong Kong Buddhists and citizens are delighted to have this very precious chance to view Buddha's finger bone relic. This opportunity is very rare and one to be cherished.

On behalf of Yicheng, chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, Shenghui, vice chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, said that the holding of the ceremony will bring good fortune to Hong Kong people and also bring happiness and well-being for the whole Chinese nation.

Liu Yandong told press after the ceremony that the veneration and display of the sarira and other 20 pieces of top class cultural relics indicated the central government's respect and care for Hong Kong Buddhism community and Hong Kong people.

She said the exhibited national treasures represented China's long history and splendid culture and she believed that every Chinese people would be proud of those cultural relics.

She said, since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the central government has made all the efforts to ensure the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and happiness and well-being of the Hong Kong people.

She emphasized that "if the family lives in harmony, all affairs will prosper." With the support from the central government and led by the HKSAR government headed by Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, Hong Kong compatriots will surely make Hong Kong a splendid city so long as they work together with one heart.

The veneration will last till June 4.