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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1992
MRS BROWES THEN READ OUT A MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD WISHES FROM THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA, MR BRIAN MULRONEY, IN WHICH HE EMPHASISED THE BENEFITS CANADA HAD ENJOYED IN ITS CLOSE AND GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH HONG KONG AND WHICH, HE SAID "WERE ENRICHING OUR NATION GREATLY."
"CANADA HAS A CULTURAL MOSAIC WHICH IS THE ENVY OF MANY NATIONS, AND WE ARE PROUD OF ITS DIVERSITY, THE PRIME MINISTER SAID.
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AFTER A WEEK OF INTENSE HONG KONG-STYLE ACTIVITY IN TORONTO, FESTIVAL HONG HONG '92 WILL NOW SWING ITS EMPHASIS TOWARD CALGARY AND VANCOUVER IN THE COMING WEEK.
TO MARK THE REMARKABLE SUCCESS OF THE TORONTO PROGRAMME, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, HELD A RECEPTION THE METRO-TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE YESTERDAY TO THANK THE FESTIVAL'S SUPPORTERS AND SPONSORS.
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AFTERWARDS THE GUESTS HAD A TRULY AUTHENTIC HONG KONG EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY ATTENDED THE TAPING OF A
A HONG KONG TVB SPECTACULAR "BRIDGE ACROSS THE PACIFIC", WHICH FEATURED THE CANADIAN BALLERINA KAREN KAIN AND A STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP OF TELEVISION ARTISTES FLOWN FROM HONG KONG.
ALBERTA'S FIRST DRAGON BOAT RACES
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THE SHORES OF GLENMORE PARK IN CALGARY WERE ON SATURDAY PACKED WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, YOUNG AND OLD, WHO MADE THEIR WAY THERE JUST TO WATCH THE FIRST EVER DRAGON BOAT RACES IN THE HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA.
AS PART OF FESTIVAL HONG KONG I 92, SIX UNIQUE ONE-TON DRAGON BOATS COMPLETED WITH COLOURFUL DRAGON HEADS AND TRADITIONAL DRUMMERS TOOK PART IN THE RACE.
AFTER THE EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY PERFORMED BY CHILDREN AND DIGNITARIES FROM THE CITY OF CALGARY AND HONG KONG INCLUDING MRS AGNES CHAN, WIFE OF SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, 29 COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE TEAMS BEGAN ΤΟ COMPETE AT VARIOUS EVENTS.
THE EXCITING, NOISY. COLOURFUL AND PROVIDED A WHOLE DAY OF FUN AND JOY FOR MANY VISITORS FROM OTHER CITIES.
SPECTACULAR EVENTS HAD CALGARIAN FAMILIES AND
EARLIER, AT A VERY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE CALGARY TRADITIONAL CEREMONY, MR CHAN, HIS WIFE AGNES AND FESTIVAL CO-ORDINATOR MAUREEN CHAN EACH RECEIVED A WHITE COWBOY HAT AND BECAME AN HONOURARY CALGARIAN.
THE HISTORY OF THE WHITE HAT GOES BACK TO THE END OF SECOND WORLD WAR. SINCE THEN THIS TREASURED WESTERN KEEPSAKE HAS BEEN BOTH A METAPHOR FOR CALGARY AND ITS PEOPLE AND A SOUVENIR TO DOZENS OF CELEBRATED DIGNITARIES INCLUDING PRINCE PHILIP, POPE JOHN PAUL, COMEDIAN BOB HOPE AND FORMER GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT SCHMIDT.
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