XN000022-1975-08-05 — Page 2

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1975

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WORSHIPPERS WELCOME CONTROLS ON CHINESE TEMPLES

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STEADY PROGRESS IS BEING MADE BY THE CHINESE TEMPLES COMMITTEE TO EXTEND DIRECT CONTROL OVER MORE CHINESE TEMPLES TO PREVENT WORSHIPPERS FROM BEING EXPLOITED BY UNSCRUPULOUS TEMPLE KEEPERS.

OF THE 42 PUBLIC TEMPLES MANAGED BY THE CHINESE TEMPLES COMMITTEE, 15 ARE NOW UNDER THE COMMITTEE'S DIRECT MANAGEMENT. NINE ARE LET BY ANNUAL TENDER WHILE THE REMAINING 18 ARE DELEGATED TO CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS AND RURAL COMMITTEES.

MR. LEUNG MAN-WAI, ACCOUNTANT OF THE CHINESE TEMPLES TRUST FUNDS, SAID TODAY THAT THE DIRECT MANAGEMENT SCHEME FIRST INTRODUCED ON A TRIAL BASIS TO TWO TEMPLES IN 1966 WAS PROVING MORE AND MORE POPULAR WITH WORSHIPPERS.

UNDER THE SCHEME, COMMITTEE DONATION BOXES ARE PLACED INSIDE TEMPLES TO COLLECT VOLUNTARY DONATIONS FROM WORSHIPPERS, WITH ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO THE CHINESE TEMPLES FUND.

CARETAKERS ARE APPOINTED TO PERFORM SIMPLE CEREMONIES, DECIPHER ORACLES, AND CARRY OUT FORTUNE TELLING AT FIXED RATES WHICH ARE CLEARLY DISPLAYED.

+THIS HAS SUCCESSFULLY ELIMINATED EXPLOITATION AND LED TO A STEADY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WORSHIPPERS AND IN REVENUE FROM VOLUNTARY DONATIONS,+ MR. LEUNG SAID.

+DONATIONS COLLECTED FROM TEMPLES DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR AMOUNTED TO A RECORD TOTAL OF MORE THAN $600,000. ALSO, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO FIND $500 BILLS AND CHEQUES FOR BIG AMOUNTS INSIDE THESE DONATION BOXES. HE SAID.

+OBVIOUSLY WORSHIPPERS DO NOT MIND DONATING LARGE SUMS VOLUNTARILY, BUT RESENT BEING SQUEEZED FOR 'OIL MONEY' BY UNSCRUPULOUS TEMPLE KEEPERS,+ HE ADDED.

ALL DONATIONS GO INTO THE CHINESE TEMPLES FUND, WHICH IS USED MAINLY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF ALL PUBLIC TEMPLES AND THE COST OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.

+IN REPAIRING TEMPLES THE BASIC PRINCIPLE IS TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE TRADITIONAL DESIGNS AND DECORATIONS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE,+ MR. LEUNG SAID.

+PART OF THE FUND IS ALSO SPENT ON SUBSIDISING THE UPKEEP OF OLD TEMPLES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, FROM WHICH NO INCOME IS DERIVED AT ALL. ANY SURPLUS MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO THE GENERAL CHINESE CHARITIES FUND FOR DISTRIBUTION TO SUITABLE LOCAL CHINESE CHARITIES,+ HE ADDED. +WELFARE PROJECTS RUN BY ANY RELIGIOUS GROUPS CAN APPLY FOR DONATIONS FROM THIS FUND.+

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MR. LEUNG .....