LONDON: The Office of Tibet hosted a reception at the Legatum Institute in London on 4 July evening to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 79th birthday.

Representatives from the Indian High Commission, Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania and Bosnia & Herzegovina, including an Ambassador attended the Reception. Members from the Himalayan region and the Chinese community, Heads of Tibet Support Groups based in London, Council Members of Tibetan Community in Britain, as well as Academicians with close connections to Tibet, donors linked to Tibet House Trust and long-time friends of Tibet attended the Reception. Honourable Member of Parliament Simon Hughes made in a brief appearance. He is also the Deputy Leader of Liberal Democrat Party.
 
This was followed by a brief introductory speech by Mr Thubten Samdup, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe, the Baltic States and Poland.

Representative Thubten Samdup said: “Even as he has successfully kept the Tibet issue at the forefront of international relations with China, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has led a wondrous experiment in democratic culture among the Tibetan exile community.  History may well point to the emergence of Tibetan democracy in diaspora as a key achievement whose impact extends far beyond the exile communities. There is the momentous and real possibility that the Tibetan democracy in exile will ultimately shape a future ‘autonomous Tibet’. One might even dare to hope that a democratically-governed ‘future Tibet’ – its Buddhist culture of peace and compassionate way of life revitalised – will prove a beneficial influence on China’s eventual emergence from an authoritarian political system.”

After the speech, members from the Tibetan Community in Britain’s cultural group presented three traditional Tibetan songs and dances.
 
The Legatum Institute had very kindly allowed the Office of Tibet the use of their central London venue again for the reception, like in the previous years. It may be recalled that the Legatum Institute hosted His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a key note speaker for their symposium on “Ethics for a More Prosperous World” in October 2012.

The Tibetan Community in Britain (TCB) observed the birthday celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama through two separate events on 5 July. More than 300 Tibetans attended the event.