MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1975
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1975 SCHOOLS' DANCE FESTIVAL BEGINS
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THE FIRST OF THE SPECIAL PERFORMANCES OF THE 1975 SCHOOLS' DANCE FESTIVAL WAS HELD TONIGHT IN THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL.
THE SPECIAL DANCE PERFORMANCES ARE THE CULMINATION OF WEEKS OF COMPETITION IN THE FESTIVAL AND AFFORDS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WINNERS TO BE PRESENTED WITH THEIR PRIZES.
THE GUESTS AT TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE WERE THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DENIS BRAY AND MRS. BRAY,
THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSLATION OF MR. BRAY'S SPEECH WHICH WAS DELIVERED IN CANTONESE:
+FROM A MODEST START IN 1965, THE SCHOOLS DANCE FESTIVAL HAS GROWN INTO AN IMPORTANT AND VERY POPULAR EVENT FOR OUR SCHOOLS: THIS YEAR, OVER 2,400 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS TOOK PART IN THE FESTIVAL, INCLUDING MANY PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN,
THE STANDARDS OF THE DANCE FESTIVAL ARE IMPROVING ALL THE TIME. IN 1970, STUDENTS TAKING PART IN THE DANCE FESTIVAL REPRESENT- ED HONG KONG AND PERFORMED IN THE WORLD EXPOSITION. THEY ALSO PERFORMED AT THE FESTIVAL OF HONG KONG. I AM SURE WE SHALL SEE THEM PERFORM AGAIN IN THE ARTS FESTIVAL IN THE COMING YEAR.
THE SCHOOLS DANCE FESTIVAL OWES ITS SUCCESS MAINLY TO THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF THE TEACHERS CONCERNED, WHO HAVE PROVIDED THE NECESSARY OPPORTUNITIES AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE CHILDREN TO TAKE PART IN THE ACTIVITIES IN THEIR SPARE TIME.
WITH THE HELP OF THE RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICERS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, WE HOPE THAT MORE DANCE FESTIVALS WILL BE HELD IN DISTRICTS MORE IMPORTANT STILL, WE HOPE THAT THE INTEREST IN DANCING WHICH SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE NOW CULTIVATING WILL GROW EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE LEFT SCHOOL, SO THAT THEY CAN ALL DANCE THEIR WAY TO A HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE.+
THE SPECIAL DANCE PERFORMANCES ARE BEING HELD IN THE CONCERT HALL EACH NIGHT UNTIL SATURDAY, APRIL 12 AT 7 PM. A MATINEE IS ALSO TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY AT 2.30 PM.
THEY ARE BEING JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG AND NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
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