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THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1974
TIN HAU'S BIRTHDAY ON MONDAY
GOVERNOR TO ATTEND FESTIVAL PARADE
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NEXT MONDAY, APRIL 15, IS THE BIRTHDAY OF TIN HAU, GODDESS OF HEAVEN AND PROTECTRESS OF SEAFARERS.
BEING A POPULAR PATRON SAINT OF THE BOAT PEOPLE, HER ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST BIRTHDAY HAS BECOME A FESTIVAL - COLOURFUL CHINESE FESTIVALS. AS POPULARITY GROWS, THIS FESTIVAL IS NOW PRACTICALLY CELEBRATED BY PEOPLE FROM ALMOST ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
EVERY YEAR THE CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES FOCUS IN YUEN LONG WITH A MAMMOTH PARADE AND IN JOSS HOUSE BAY WHERE THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS PAY HOMAGE TO TIN HAU, SIMILAR EVENTS, THOUGH ON A SMALLER SCALE, ARE ALSO HELD AT THE MANY TIN HAU TEMPLES BUILT NEAR THE ENTRANCES TO FISHING HARBOURS.
A. LARGER CROWD IS EXPECTED AT THE YUEN LONG PROCESSION THIS YEAR AS THE FESTIVAL, CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE LUNAR CALENDAR, FALLS WITHIN THE FOUR-DAY EASTER HOLIDAYS.
THE PARADE STARTS SHORTLY BEFORE 11 A.M. ON MONDAY CAPRIL 15), PROCEEDING FROM THE YUEN LONG EASTERN BUS TERMINUS TO THE YUEN LONG STADIUM WHERE THE MAIN CELEBRATIONS WILL BE HELD.
ABOUT 3,000 VILLAGERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS WILL TAKE PART IN THE TWO-HOUR PROCESSION WHICH FEATURES LION, DRAGON AND UNICORN DANCES, ACROBATIC DISPLAY AND FLOATS.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL BE AMONG THE THOUSANDS ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL PARADE AND SHARE IN THE FUN AND GAIETY.
AT JOSS HOUSE BAY, A LARGE NUMBER OF PILGRIMS IS EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR WAY IN GAILY DECORATED JUNKS, BARGES AND SAMPANS TO THE TIN HAU TEMPLE THERE, BRINGING OFFERINGS AND FOOD FOR THE DAY-LONG CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES.
HOWEVER, AS A PRECAUTIONERY MEASURE, THE +KAI-TO+ OPERATORS HAVE BEEN WARNED NOT TO OVERLOAD THEIR VESSELS.
THERE WILL BE SIGNS INDICATING BERTHS FOR EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARKATION AND THE ARMY WILL PROVIDE A TEMPORARY PONTOON FOR PASSENGERS TO LAND FROM BOATS.
IN ORDER TO AVOID CONGESTION ON LAND, LION AND OTHER DANCES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ASHORE AT JOSS HOUSE BRY.
FIRST AID AND FIRE FIGHTING FACILITIES WILL BE ARRANGED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. IN ADDITION, SPACE IS ALSO RESERVED TO BE USED AS A SPECIAL HELICOPTER PAD SHOULD IT BE NECESSARY.
/TO COPE .......