14
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1990
THOUGH WORSHIPPED BY MANY
PEOPLE IN
HONG KONG,
PARTICURALY
IS
THOSE WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING ON THE WATER, THE ORIGIN OF THE DEITY LITTLE KNOWN.
IN
WEATHER.
ONE STORY IS THAT HE WAS AN OFFICIAL OF KWANGTUNG PROVINCE THE TANG DYNASTY (618-907 AD) WHO KNEW HOW TO FORETELL THE ANOTHER SAYS HE IS THE DRAGON KING WHO RULES THE SOUTHERN SEAS.
AND
FROM TAI
BOTH VERSIONS EXPLAIN HIS IMPORTANCE TO SEAFARERS FISHERMEN, THIS MAY ALSO EXPLAIN WHY MANY FISHERMEN GROUPS DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE TERRITORY SUCH AS SHAU KEI WAN, ABERDEEN, PO AND LANTAU CAME TO JOIN TODAY'S CELEBRATION ON KAU SAI ISLAND.
THE CLIMAX OF THE CELEBRATION WAS THE "FA P'AAU" LUCKY DRAW CEREMONY AFTER THE VILLAGE LUNCH.
THE "FA P'AAU" IS A TOWERING FLORAL SHRINE. USUALLY FEET TALL, IT IS MADE OF BAMBOO AND COLOUR PAPER AND LETTUCES AND GINGER AND, IN A SMALL GLASS CASE, THE WOODEN THE SAINTLY LORD HUNG.
ABOUT 20 HUNG WITH STATUS OF
THERE WERE 34 "FA P'AAUS" FOR THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION.
EACH WINNER OF THE LUCKY DRAW WAS GIVEN A "FA PAAU" CONSIDERED A GUARANTEE OF GOOD FORTUNE AND GOOD HEALTH FOR FAMILY, OR VILLAGE, FOR THE COMING 12 MONTHS.
MANY LOCAL DIGNITARIES, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OFFICIALS ATTENDED THE CELEBRATIONS.
WHICH IS THE WHOLE
GOVERNMENT
AMONG THEM WERE THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FREDERICK TONG, WHO ALSO MADE THE FIRST DRAW, AND ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS LISA CHAN.
0
NEW REGIONAL OFFICE FOR WSD OPENS * * * * *
A NEW REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY (FRIDAY) TO TAKE CHARGE OF DAILY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, LANTAU ISLAND, PENG CHAU, CHEUNG CHAU AND LAMMA ISLAND.
IT WAS OPENED BY THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR K.L. WONG.
THE HONG KONG AND ISLANDS REGIONAL OFFICE ALSO PROVIDES TECHNICAL SERVICES TO CONSUMERS IN THESE AREAS.
THE OFFICE IS OPEN FROM 8.45 AM TO 5. 15 FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SATURDAYS.
PM ON WEEKDAYS
AND
/THE OFFICE'S
+