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SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1974.
THE LEGEND OF TSAN KWAN TAI DAL
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OF THE MANY CHINESE FESTIVALS THAT ARE CELEBRATED EVERY.
YEAR IN HONG KONG, THERE IS ONE WHICH ATTRACTS RELATIVELY LITTLE
ATTENTION.
VERY
IN FACT, NOT VERÝ MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER
GENERATION, HAVE HEARD OF THIS ANNUAL FESTIVAL WHICH TAKES PLACE
ONLY ON THE ISLAND OF TSING YI.
THE FESTIVAL, SIMILAR TO THAT OF TIN HAU, IS TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF THE LEGENDARY CHARACTER +TSAN
KUAN TAI DAI+ OR IN THE BEST ENGLISH EQUIVALENT FAIRPLAY, WISDOM AND TRUTH.
THE GOD OF
LEGEND HAS IT THAT DURING THE SUNG DYNASTY, THE PROVINCE OF KWANG TUNG WAS PLAGUED BY PIRATES AND THE AUTHORITIES THERE
WERE UNABLE TO SUPPRESS THE ACTIVITIES OF THOSE, WATER-BORNE
THIEVES.
WHEN THE PLUNDERING AND KILLINGS WERE ABOUT TO GET OUT OF
HAND, ALONG CAME A MAN KNOWN SIMPLY AS NG.
HE APPROACHED THE EMPEROR LI T'SUNG WITH A PLAN TO RID THE
PROVINCE OF PIRATES.
BUT
WHATEVER THE PLANS WERE, LEGEND NEVER REVEALED. APPARENTLY THEY WORKED AND PEACE ONCE MORE RETURNED TO KWANG
TUNG,
50 PLEASED WAS THE EMPEROR THAT HE APPOINTED NG AS
PROVINCIAL COUNSELLOR
A ROLE HE PLAYED EXCEEDINGLY WELL.
PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE VERE SAID TO HAVE APPROACHED HIM WITH THEIR PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF HIS WISDOM AND IMPARTIALITY.
WHEN HE
J