XN000022-1977-01-26 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1977

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA TO WATCH U.C.'S VARIETY SHOW

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SOME 5,000 RESIDENTS OF TSZ WAN SHAN WILL BE TREATED TO ONE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S REGULAR OPEN AIR VARIETY SHOWS ON THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 5 BUT THIS TIME THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE EVENING WITH A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR.

HRH PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, WHO WILL BE ON HER FOURTH DAY OF VISIT TO HONG KONG, WILL JOIN THEM AT THE IR LOCAL PLAYGROUND AND WILL DOT THE EYES OF A LION TO START A 45-MINUTE PROGRAMME OF POPULAR LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT.

BESIDES THE LION DANCE, RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY A SELECTION OF THE BEST ACROBATICS IN HONG KONG AND PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL SINGERS AND FOLK DANCERS IN TRADITIONAL COSTUMES.

MR. KENNETH T.C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, WILL BE AT THE PLAYGROUND TO WELCOME THE ROYAL VISITOR.

VARIETY SHOW IS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF THE COUNCIL'S YEAR-ROUND POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME. THERE ARE ALSO CANTONESE OPERAS AND POP CONCERTS, FILM SHOWS, BAND CONCERTS, PUPPET SHOWS, COMEDY SKETCHES AND SPECIAL ATHLETIC AND ACROBATIC DISPLAYS.

ON OCCASIONS SUCH AS THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL AND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE COUNCIL ORGANISES FUN FAIRS AND CARNIVALS IN THE LARGER PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE.

THESE EVENTS ARE PACKED WITH SIDE SHOWS AND GAME STALLS AND OFTEN LAST FOR THE WHOLE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND SOMETIMES FOR DAYS.

+ON AVERAGE SOME 50,000 TO 60,000 PEOPLE COME TO THE POPULAR SHOWS EVERY MONTH, SAID MR. ALBERT CHAN, STAFF OFFICER (ENTERTAINMENT) OF THE COUNCIL.

+ABOUT FIFTY EVENTS ARE ORGANISED EACH MONTH AND IN SOME OF THEM, ESPECIALLY THE MORE POPULAR POP CONCERTS, THE AUDIENCE ON ONE ÉVENING MAY WELL SWELL TO TWO OR THREE THOUSAND, + HE SAID.

THESE ARE HELD IN PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS AND A MOBILE VAN WHICH CAN EASILY BE CONVERTED INTO AN OPEN STAGE IS USED IN PLACES WHERE THERE ARE NO ADEQUATE FACILITIES,

THE PROGRAMME IS SO ARRANGED THAT AT LEAST ONE SHOW IS HELD IN A PARTICULAR PLAYGROUND EVERY MONTH. ADMISSION IS FREE.

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