The guests of honour at the inaugural ceremony included Bishop K H Ting, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Honorary Chairman of the TSPM and the Honorary President of the CCC; Mr Tung Chee Wha, the Chief Executive of HKSAR; Mr. Gao Siren, the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR; HKSKH Archbishop Peter Kwong; the Revd Cao Sheng-jie of CCC;  Mr. Zhu Wei-qun, the Vice- Minister of the United Front Work Department; Mr. Ye Xiao-wen, the Director of the State Religious Affairs Bureau of China; and the Revd Deng Fu-cun, Vice-Chairman of the TSPM.  Other participants included several HKSAR Government officials and representatives from Churches and other religious institutions in China and Hong Kong.

The opening prayer was conducted by the Revd Lee Chee-Kong.  Bishop K.H. Ting and the Revd Cao Sheng-jie, respectively, gave speeches.  The Most Revd Peter Kwong pronounced delivered the Benediction.

In his speech, Bishop Ting pointed out that China has incorporated the protection of human rights into its National Constitution.  This indicates that China is determined to better implement its policy of religious freedom and to ensure that religious freedom is a basic human right.  He hoped that through this Exhibition, non-Mainland Chinese nationals will further understand Chinese Christian establishments and thereby further enhance their understanding of China. 

He pointed out that most of the Christians in Mainland China have their own Bible which they treasure.  The Bible plays a significant role in both their spiritual and material life. 

He further said that God is love.  Both colleagues and fellow Christians from Hong Kong and Mainland China have experienced dwelling in God's love and presence.  By accepting us, God enables us to have a more meaningful and abundant life. 

Finally, he pointed out that this 'Exhibition of Bible Ministry of the Churches in China' once again testified that religious freedom in China is alive. 

The Revd Cao Cheng-jie pointed out that most Christians in Mainland China have their own Bible.  Through their daily readings, they receive encouragement for their work.  The current exhibition bears witness to the blessings and grace that God endows to China and its Christian Churches.

The Bible was translated into Chinese language in the nineteenth century.  With the reform in modernization, the TSPM/CCC has made the publication of the Bible the first priority.  From 1980 until June this year, 35 million copies have been published.  In the past ten years, an average of 2.5 million copies have been printed annually.  The Bible has also been translated into eight different local dialects with over 470,000 copies printed. 

The theme for the Exhibition was: 'A lamp to my feet.  A light to my path.'  There were eight individual booths in the exhibition centre.  Displays included valuable information on the development of the Bible Ministry of the Churches in China, the development of the Bible both before and after the reform in China, the Roman Catholic development of the Bible, and the Bible development of the minority populations in China.  Items in the charity auction included an 'empress edition' of the Bible presented to the Empress Dowager in 1849.  Proceeds from the auction were donated to the Medical College of the Chinese University for their research on SARS and other infectious diseases.  At the entrance of the Exhibition, there was a stunning wooden carving entitled, 'The Daily Life of Jesus', depicting several stories from the Bible.