XN000022-1975-08-05 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1975

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MR. LEUNG SAID THAT DESPITE RAPID PROGRESS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS A DEFINITE NEED FOR THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF TEMPLES BECAUSE THEY CATER FOR THE SPIRITUAL NEED OF A BIG SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY.

+THEY ARE ALSO A VALUABLE LINK WITH THE PAST AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF CHINESE TRADITION, AND A COLOURFUL TOURIST ATTRACTION.

+IN FACT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE VISITING TEMPLES CONTINUES TO INCREASE YEAR AFTER YEAR,+ HE SAID. +LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO TIN HAU TEMPLE AT JOSS HOUSE BAY ON THE FESTIVAL DAY ALONE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 50,000+.

+ONE REASON FOR THIS INCREASE MAY BE DUE TO A BIGGER NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND TOURISTS ATTENDING RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES JUST TO SHARE IN THE FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE, OR VISITING A TEMPLE TO HAVE THEIR FORTUNES TOLD JUST FOR FUN+, HE ADDED.

NOTE TO EDITORS: COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING ONE OF THE

DONATION BOXES IN A TEMPLE ARE BOXED FOR COLLECTION.

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