XN000022-1977-05-06 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1977

TIN HAU FESTIVAL PROCESSION IN YUEN LONG

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THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO WATCH A COLOURFUL PROCESSION TO BE HELD IN YUEN LONG NEXT TUESDAY (MAY 10) TO MARK THE TIN HAU FESTIVAL.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL BE THE GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE PROCESSION IN YUEN LONG STADIUM AT 12 NOON.

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

THE PROCESSION WILL FEATURE LION DANCES, CHIU CHAU FOLK DANCES, FLAG PROCESSIONS, UNICORN DANCES AND FLORAL CARS SPONSORED BY 30 ORGANISATIONS.

IT WILL TAKE ONE AND A HALF HOURS TO PASS THROUGH THE STADIUM WHERE IT WILL BE WATCHED BY HUNDREDS OF OFFICIAL GUESTS AND LARGE CROWDS OF SPECTATORS. THE ROUTE OF THE PROCESSION TO THE STADIUM IS EXPECTED TO BE LINED WITH ONLOOKERS.

THE PROCESSION WILL FORM UP AT THE EASTERN BUS TERMINUS, REACHING THE STADIUM BY 12 NOON.

AFTER LEAVING THE STADIUM, IT WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO THE TIN HAU TEMPLE AT TAI SHUE HA FOR RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES,

BECAUSE OF THE CROWDS, SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE YUEN LONG AREA ON TUESDAY. PEOPLE INTENDING TO WATCH THE PROCESSION ARE ADVISED TO REACH YUEN LONG NOT LATER THAN 11.30 A.M.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT AT THE YUEN LONG STADIUM. SPECIAL BADGES FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE G.I.S. PRESS ROOM.

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