THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1980
THE LAUNCHING OF KEYING 11
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PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE JUNK *KEYING II' AS IT SAILED THROUGH THE HARBOUR AFTER ITS LAUNCHING CEREMONY THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING.
THE JUNK'S APPEARANCE ATTRACTED MUCH ATTENTION SINCE ITS OLD STYLE DESIGN IS NOW RARE. JUNKS OF THIS CLASS HAVE NOT BEEN BUILT IN HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
"KEYING II', A 18.3 METRE, THREE MASTED FISHING JUNK, SPECIALLY BUILT FOR THE HONG KONG IN LONDON FESTIVAL, WAS LAUNCHED BY MRS BESSIE WOO, DAUGHTER OF SIR Y.K. PAO WHO PAID FOR THE JUNK'S CONSTRUCTION, AS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE FESTIVAL.
THE ORIGINAL KEYING, IMMORTALISED BY CHARLES DICKENS WHEN HE WAS A CORRESPONDENT FOR THE EXAMINER+, SAILED TO LONDON IN 1848 FOR HONG KONG'S FIRST OVERSEAS PROMOTION.
AMONG THE GUESTS ON BOARD THE NEW JUNK WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOCAL SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING MR ALAN SCOTT, SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION MR ROBERT SUN, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES- MR J.M. RIDDELL-SWAN, DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND MR P.E.J. DAVY, DIRECTOR OF MARINE.
THE PRESENCE OF THE KEYING II' AT THE HONG KONG IN LONDON FESTIVAL, WILL ENHANCE ONE OF THE BIGGEST OVERSEAS PROMOTIONAL EVENTS THE GOVERNMENT HAS EVER STAGED.
THROUGH THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE OF THE SWIRE GROUP AND OCL (OVERSEAS CONTAINER LIMITED), THE JUNK WILL BE SENT ON A CONTAINER SHIP TO THE UK NEXT WEEK. IT IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT SOUTHAMPTON BY THE END OF AUGUST AND WILL THEN SAIL UP THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND AROUND THE KENTISH COAST TO THE RIVER THAMES.
'KEYING II' WILL EVENTUALLY FIND A PERMANENT HOME IN THE EXETER MARITIME MUSEUM, WHICH PUTS ITS VALUABLE COLLECTION OF SEA CRAFT TO WORK BY SENDING THEM UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY'S WATERWAYS TO BE SEEN BY ENTHUSIASTS THROUGHOUT BRITAIN.
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