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TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1976

COLOURFUL TIN HAU CELEBRATIONS IN YUEN LONG

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL BE THE BUEST OF HONOUR AT A COLOURFUL TIM HAU FESTIVAL PROCESSION AT YUEN LONG STADIUM ON THURSDAY (APRIL 22.)

THE FESTIVAL, WHICH TAKES PLACE ANNUALLY, IS IN HONOUR OF TIN HAU, THE GODDESS OF HEAVEN AND PROTECTRESS OF SEAFARERS. IT HAS BEEN ARRANGED BY THE SHAP PAT HEUNG RURAL COMMITTEE.

THE MAIN FEATURE WILL BE THE PROCESSION WHICH IS COMPOSED OF LION DANCES, CHIU CHAU FOLK DANCES, FLAG PROCESSIONS, UNICORN DANCES AND FLORAL CARS.

IT WILL TAKE ABOUT ONE NOUR TO PASS THROUGH THE STADIUM WHERE IT WILL BE MATCHED BY HUNDREDS OF GUESTS AND A LARGE CROWD OF SPECTATORS. THE ROUTE OF THE PROCESSION TO THE STADIUM IS ALSO EXPECTED TO BE LINED WITH THOUSANDS OF ON-LOOKERS,

THE PROCESSION WILL FORM UE AT THE EASTERN BUS TERMINUS. REACHING THE STADIUM BY 12 NOON. IT WILL CONSIST OF ENTRIES FRON 30 ORGANISATIONS,

AFTER LEAVING THE STADIUM THE PROCESSION WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO THE TIN HAU TEMPLE AT TAI SHUE HAU FOR RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.

BECAUSE OF THE CROWDS, SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL COME INTO FORCE IN YUEN LONG ON THURSDAY. ANYONE INTENDING TO MATCH THE PROCESSION IS ADVISED TO REACHED YUEN LONG NOT LATER THAN 11.30 A.M. WHETHER COMING BY PRIVATE CAR OR PUBLIC. TRANSPORT.

NOTE TO EDITORS: PRESS BADGES FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ASSIGNED

TO COVER THE PROCESSION ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM.

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