SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1986
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TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS COMPATIBLE WITH NEW TOWN GROWTH *****
AS THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS INCREASES, GREAT EMPHASIS IS BEING PLACED ON OBSERVING TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS AND RITES, TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN SELBY, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
HE POINTED OUT THAT THROUGH VARIOUS RELIGIOUS RITES, PEOPLE WERE MORE APPRECIATIVE OF THE BEAUTY OF FOLK ARTS AND HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND TRADITIONAL VALUES.
MR SELBY WAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TA CHIU CEREMONY ORGANISED BY THE CHUNG YEE TONG TA CHIU COMMITTEE IN TUEN MUN. DR HAYES WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND DUE TO INDISPOSITION.
MR SELBY SAID IN TUEN MUN SEVERAL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS WERE BEING CARRIED OUT TO SERVICE A MODERN AND SELF-SUFFICIENT NEW TOWN.
A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES WOULD COME ON STREAM WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW TOWN HALL, PHASE TWO OF THE TOWN PARK, AN INDOOR GAMES CENTRE, THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL, AS WELL AS THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT WHICH WOULD START OPERATION IN 1988.
ACCOMPANIED BY CHAIRMAN OF THE TA CHIU COMMITTEE, MR TANG TUNG-CHIU, MR SELBY PERFORMED A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY AND THE EYE-DOTTING OF A DRAGON.
THE TRADITIONAL TA CHIU ACTIVITY, HELD ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS TO APPEASE THE GODS AND TO PRAY FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR THE VILLAGERS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A GRAND-SCALE LION AND DRAGON DANCE PARADE, IN 12 VILLAGES IN TUEN MUN TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
ROLE OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PRAISED
*****
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FORMS AN EFFECTIVE ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS ENDEAVOUR TO FIGHT CRIME, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CENTRAL AND DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, DR HO KAM-FAI, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPEN DAY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE, DR HO SAID HE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO CONSTANTLY REVIEW ITS STAFF TRAINING PROGRAMMES TO INCLUDE THE LATEST TECHNIQUES IN REHABILITATING OFFENDERS.
/+INCREASING