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Southern District Festival caters for special groups
The Southern District Festival will offer special programmes to cater for the elderly and handicapped in addition to a wide range of other activities which will appeal to the community at large, the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Shelley Lau, said today (Sunday).
Speaking at a ceremony to launch the festival, Mrs Lau said one of its objectives was to encourage wider participation in district events among senior citizens and handicapped people in order to raise their sense of belonging to the district.
"By the same token, this would allow the community at large to get to know these special groups better and show their respect and concern," Mrs Lau said.
The opening ceremony was followed immediately by a variety show highlighting the special characteristics of the district. Some of the best known local artistes, including Mr Aaron Kwok, Miss Vivian Chow, Miss Sammi Cheng and a number of RTHK disc jockeys, also performed on the occasion.
A total of 23 activities are to be organised between today and January 5 to mark the festival. They include carnivals, ball games, Cantonese operas, karaoke singing contests for the handicapped and an athletics meet for senior citizens.
"With the support of the Southern District Board, the festival is the positive fruition of district administration and an example of what can be achieved by promoting community involvement and communication within the district," Mrs Lau said.
The three-week festival is organised by the Southern District Festival Organising Committee with the assistance of the Southern District Office.
The Southern District Officer, Mrs Erika Hui; the Chairman of the Southern District Board, Mr Ko Tam-kan; and the Chairman of the Southern District Festival Organising Committee, Mrs So Chau Yim-ping were also present.
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