XN000022-1977-05-13 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1977

GOVERNMENT HOUSE RECEPTION FOR

H.K.'S SPORTS TEAMS *****

THE HONG KONG TABLE TENNIS AND SOCCER TEAMS WHICH EXCELLED THEMSELVES IN INTERNATIONAL MATCHES TWO MONTHS AGO WERE OFFICIALLY RECEIVED THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AND LADY MACLEHOSE AT A RECEPTION AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN HONOUR OF THEIR TRIUMPHANT PERFORMANCES.

ALSO AT THE RECEPTION WERE MR. F.K. LI, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES= MR.KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION MR. M.C. CASWELL, PRINCIPAL EDUCATION OFFICER, (PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND SPORT UNIT) AND SOME CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS.

SIR MURRAY AND LADY MACLEHOSE CHATTED WITH THE TWO TEAMS AND EXCHANGED VIEWS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF +PING PONG+ AND THE DIET OF ATHLETES.

THE TABLE TENNIS TEAM SWEPT AWAY SIX OUT OF SEVEN GOLD MEDALS AT STAKE IN THE FOURTH COMMONWEALTH TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD IN MARCH AT GUERNSEY, BRITAIN, IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, THE MEN'S TEAM CLINCHED PROMOTION TO GROUP A.

THE SOCCER TEAM ALSO BROUGHT HONOURS FOR HONG KONG BY SMASHING THEIR WAY TO THE TOP OF THE ASIAN GROUP ONE WORLD SOCCER CUP ON MARCH 12 IN SINGAPORE. HONG KONG BEAT SINGAPORE ONE NIL IN THE GROUP'S FINALS.

·

HONG KONG WILL NOW PLAY THE WINNERS OF THE OTHER THREE ASIAN GROUPS IRAN, SOUTH KOREA AND KUWAIT AND AUSTRALIA OF THE OCEANIA GROUP, IN THE CONTINUING ELIMINATION ROUNDS TO QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP FINALS IN ARGENTINA NEXT YEAR.

BEFORE THE RECEPTION ENDED, THE CAPTAIN OF THE SOCCER TEAM MR. WU KWOK-HUNG, AND THE VICE-CAPTAIN, MR. KWOK KA-MING PRESENTED SIR MURRAY WITH AN AUTOGRAPHED BANNER AND FOOTBALL.

ON RECEIVING THE FOOTBALL, SIR MURRAY SAID JOKINGLY: + IF MY OLD SCHOOL SEES ME WITH THIS ROUND FOOTBALL, I WOULD BE EXPELLED FROM THE OLD BOY'S ASSOCIATION,+ (SIR MURRAY WAS EDUCATED AT RUGBY).

15..