XN000022-1976-08-14 — Page 3

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1976

2

A.D.B. MISSION HERE TO DISCUSS LOAN

******

AN APPRAISAL MISSION FROM THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK HAS ARRIVED IN HONG KONG FOR A PERIOD OF TWO OR THREE WEEKS.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS VISIT IS TO DISCUSS WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THE POSSIBILITY OF A LOAN FROM THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK TOWARDS PART OF THE COST OF BUILDING A PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX, INCLUDING CERTAIN COMMUNITY FACILITIES, IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.

THERE IS AS YET NO COMMITMENT BY EITHER PARTY TO A LOAN, AND THESE TALKS WILL BE OF AN EXPLORATORY NATURE.

H.K. SCHOOL DANCERS APPEAR ON TV IN NORTH SCOTLAND

******

THE PRESENCE OF THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS' CHINESE DANCE GROUP IN ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, HAS CONSIDERABLY ENHANCED THE IMAGE OF HONG KONG.

THEY HAVE APPEARED ON THE GRAMPIAN TELEVISION AND THE INDEPENDENT TELEVISION IN NORTH SCOTLAND,

IN ADDITION, THE GROUP'S LIAISON OFFICER, MRS. ESTHER WONG, HAS TAKEN PART IN A DISCUSSION PROGRAMME AND GIVEN THREE INTERVIEWS ON BOTH BBC'S NATIONAL AND ABERDEEN RADIO NETWORKS.

THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS' DANCERS ARE MORE THAN SUPERB PERFORMERS ON STAGE. THEY ARE ALSO AMBASSADORS OF GOODWILL OFF STAGE.

RECIPROCATING THE CORDIALITY OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM THE UNITED STATES - THE ST. LOUIS CIVIC BALLET TROUPE - 426 SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM HONG KONG ATTENDED A PERFORMANCE BY THE TROUPE AT THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION THEATRE ON THURSDAY (12 AUGUST) NIGHT, AND SWARMED THE CHANGING ROOMS TO OFFER THEIR CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AMERICANS AFTER THE SHOW.

THE BACK STAGE WAS AT ONCE TURNED INTO A SCENE OF INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING, WITH THE DANCERS FROM TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD HUGGING EACH OTHER AND EXCHANGING SOUVENIRS.

DURING THE FIRST TWO NIGHTS OF THE HONG KONG GROUP'S APPEARANCE AT THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION THEATRE, THE AMERICAN BALLET GROUP TURNED OUT IN FULL FORCE TO WATCH EACH SHOW AND CHEERED THE SCHOOL DANCERS AFTER EACH PERFORMANCE.

THE HONG KONG - AMERICAN +TIE+ IS MORE THAN ONE OF INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING. IT IS A SIGN OF GOOD NEIGHBOURL INESS FOR THEY ARE STAYING IN THE SAME HOSTEL AT ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY.

13