XN000022-1975-04-30 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1975.

TIN HAU FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS

ACTIVITIES CENTRE IN YUEN LONG AND JOSS HOUSE BAY

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THE BIRTHDAY OF TIN HAU, THE GODDESS OF HEAVEN AND PROTECTRESS OF SEAFARERS, FALLS THIS YEAR ON SUNDAY, MAY 4.

THE FESTIVAL IS ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST COLOURFUL ANNUAL EVENTS AND IS CELEBRATED BY PEOPLE FROM MANY WALKS OF LIFE.

EVERY YEAR, THE ACTIVITIES CENTRE IN YUEN LONG WITH

A MAMMOTH PARADE AND IN JOSS HOUSE BAY WHERE THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS PAY HOMAGE TO THE GODDESS TIN HAU. SIMILAR EVENTS, THOUGH ON A SMALLER SCALE, ARE ALSO HELD AT THE MANY TIN HAU TEMPLES BUILT NEAR THE ENTRANCES TO FISHING HARBOURS.

A LARGE CROWD IS EXPECTED AT THE YUEN LONG PROCESSION THIS YEAR AS THE FESTIVAL FALLS ON A SUNDAY.

THE PARADE STARTS SHORTLY AFTER 11 A.M. PROCEEDING FROM THE YUEN LONG EASTERN BUS TERMINUS TO THE YUEN LONG STADIUM WHERE THE MAIN CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD.

ABOUT 3,000 VILLAGERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS WILL TAKE PART IN THE TWO-HOUR PROCESSION WHICH FEATURES LION, DRAGON AND UNICORN DANCES, ACROBATIC DISPLAY AND COLOURFUL FLOATS.

SIR YUET-KUNG KAN AND LADY KAN WILL BE AMONG THE THOUSANDS ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL.

AT JOSS HOUSE BAY, A LARGE NUMBER OF PILGRIMS IS EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR WAY IN GAILY-DECORATED JUNKS, BARGES AND SAMPANS TO THE TIN HAU TEMPLE THERE, BRINGING OFFERINGS AND FOOD FOR THE DAY-LONG CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES.

FOR VISITORS GOING TO JOSS HOUSE BAY, THERE WILL BE SIGNS

AS INDICATING BERTHIS FOR EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARKATION AND USUAL, THE ARMY WILL PROVIDE A TEMPORARY PONTOON.

THE

TO COPE WITH THE EXPECTED LARGE NUMBER OF PILGRIMS, HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY CO. WILL OPERATE SPECIAL SERVICES BETWEEN WANCHAI AND JOSS HOUSE BAY.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE EVENT AT YUEN LONG. PRESS BADGES FOR THE PARADE ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE AS FROM TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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