SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1986
GOVERNOR LAUNCHES HK WEEK IN SAN FRANCISCO
*****
HONG KONG ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH A BANG ON FRIDAY (SATURDAY, HK TIME) AS THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LAUNCHED À HONG KONG FESTIVAL IN THE CITY'S FAMED UNION SQUARE.
THE BANG CAME FROM A BURST OF FIRECRACKERS LINING A SQUARE PACKED WITH LOCALS AND HOLIDAY-MAKERS GETTING A TASTE OF HONG KONG ATMOSPHERE FROM THE SPECIALLY ERECTED STALLS.
IN A SHORT SPEECH BEFORE SETTING OFF THE FIREWORKS, SIR EDWARD REFERRED TO THE UNIQUE BLEND OF EAST AND WEST COMMON TO BOTH HONG KONG AND SAN FRANCISCO AS WELL AS THE MANY COMMERCIAL AND CULTURAL TIES WHICH CONTINUE TO GROW.
THE TWO-DAY FESTIVAL FEATURES THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE BAND, CHINESE FAN DANCERS, LION DANCERS AND A WIDE VARIETY OF ARTS AND CRAFT DEMONSTRATORS.
CHIEF SPONSOR OF THE EVENT IS CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS WHICH BROUGHT THE GOVERNOR TO SAN FRANCISCO ON THURSDAY ON ITS INAUGURAL FLIGHT TO THE CITY.
THE FESTIVAL IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF HONG KONG WEEK PROCLAIMED BY THE CITY'S MAYOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN WHEN SHE WELCOMED SIR EDWARD ON HIS ARRIVAL.
ONE OF THE CITY'S PRINCIPAL DEPARTMENT STORES I. MAGNIN IS ALSO RUNNING A SPECIAL PROMOTION OF HONG KONG GOODS AND ON FRIDAY HELD A GALA FASHION SHOW SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
TOP MODELS FROM HONG KONG, THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE DISPLAYED THE LATEST FASHION PRODUCED AND DESIGNED IN HONG KONG BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF LEADING LOCAL PERSONALITIES WITH SIR EDWARD AND LADY YOUDE AND MAYOR FEINSTE IN AS GUESTS OF HONOUR. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN, WHO IS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICIAL PARTY, INTRODUCED THE PROGRAMME.
IN THE AFTERNOON, LADY YOUDE PAID A VISIT TO ONE OF
SAN FRANCISCO'S MOST IMPORTANT LANDMARKS TO THE CHINESE COMMUNITY
THE CHINESE HOSPITAL LOCATED IN CHINA TOWN.
-
THE ORIGINALLY OPENED AS THE TUNG WAH DISPENSARY IN 1900, HOSPITAL HAS HAD A LONG CONNECTION WITH HONG KONG IN BOTH ITS MANAGEMENT BOARD AND IN ITS STAFF.
ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF ITS PATIENTS ARE CHINESE AND MOST OF THEM ARE RECENT IMMIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG.
AFTER TOURING THE HOSPITAL, LADY YOUDE SAID SHE WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE HIGH STANDARD OF THE FACILITIES.
/2