FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1983

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NEW DRAGON BOATS' EYES DOTTED

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TWO NEW DRAGON BOATS WHICH WILL BE TAKING PART IN RACES IN TAI PO ON TUEN NG FESTIVAL (JUNE 15) WERE GIVEN LIFE TODAY FOLLOWING AN EYE-DOTTING BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON.

THE CEREMONY, HELD AT TAI WONG YEH TEMPLE IN YUEN CHAU TSAI, BEGAN WITH TRADITIONAL RITES OF SELF-CLEANSING' AND OFFERING OF WINE, ROASTED PIG, CHICKEN AND OTHER DELICACIES TO TAI WONG YEH THE PATRON GOD OF FISHERMEN.

AFTER THE CHANTING OF PRAYERS AND PRAISES IN THE HAKKA DIALECT BY TWO VILLAGE ELDERS, MR MACPHERSON DOTTED THE EYES WHILE THE TWO DONORS OF THE BOATS DID THE DECORATION.

AN EXHIBITION RACE WAS LATER HELD.

THIS YEAR, 50 TEAMS FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS WILL TAKE PART IN THE TAI PO DRAGON BOAT RACES AT SHUEN WAN HOI, ALONG THE MAIN DAM OF PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WILL ATTEND THE RACES, WHICH START AT 9.30 AM, AND PRESENT THE PRIZES.

RCD BUILDS UP LINKS WITH SPORTS BODIES

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THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF MEETINGS BETWEEN THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNING BODIES OF SPORTS WAS HELD THIS AFTERNOON.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE AIM OF THE MEETING WAS TO MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN LINKS WITH THE VARIOUS SPORTING BODIES.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM EIGHT SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS ATTENDED THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING HELD AT THE DEPARTMENT.

THEY ARE HONG KONG BADMINTON ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG CYCLING ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG AND KOWLOON VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG CANOE UNION, HONG KONG AMATEUR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG AMATEUR FENCING ASSOCIATION AND HONG KONG TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION.

THE MEETING WAS CHAIRED BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, (RECREATION AND SPORTS), MR DICKEN YUNG.

+A SERIES OF MEETINGS WERE HELD LAST YEAR AND THEY WERE USEFUL IN THE SENSE THAT THEY PROVIDED A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CONCERNED TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND DISCUSS ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST, MR YUNG SAID.

TODAY'S DISCUSSIONS WERE ABOUT GRANTS FROM THE PROMOTION OF SPORTS VOTE, ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SPORTS.

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