Dignitaries joined people from all walks of life in a commemorative event in Hong Kong on Thursday to mark the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, which hastened the end of feudal rule in China.

About 500 dignitaries attended the event, including officials from the SAR government and the central authorities, representatives from all walks of life in Hong Kong, descendants of the sages of the revolution, and relevant experts and scholars.

The Xinhai Revolution, or 1911 Revolution, began on Oct 10, 1911 with an armed uprising and ended the imperial rule of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It led to a republican government, and planted the ideas of democracy and equality in the minds of the Chinese people

The Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China and the Hong Kong Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations jointly organized the event. It was part of a series of activities to commemorate the revolution, including a youth forum and a symposium on Friday which will be held by two separate organizations.

A preparatory committee was formed by the two groups and 80 other organizations and over 200 social dignitaries in the city to host these events.

Meeting the media earlier, one of the executive chairmen of the committee Yiu Chi-shing, who is also the chairman of the HKAPPRC, noted that Hong Kong had played a significant role in the 1911 Revolution.

Hong Kong was where Sun Yat-sen, the leading figure of the revolution, had his thoughts developed and where the revolution's major revolutionary organization, the Hsing Chung Hui, was established.

Yiu hoped that through these events, more people can carry forward the spirit of the revolution, making contributions to advance the Chinese dream of rejuvenation and ensure the long-term practice of the "one country, two systems" principle.