XN000022-1978-05-06 — Page 5

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1978

EUN FESTIVAL PROCESSION ON CHEUNG CHAU

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES. MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THIS YEAR'S BUN FESTIVAL PROCESSION TO BE HELD ON CHEUNG CHAU ON TUESDAY (MAY 9).

THE PROCESSION BETTER KNOWN AS +TA CHIU+ PROCESSION ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS OF THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL WHICH BEGINS TOMORROW (SUNDAY). IT IS ORGANISED ANNUALLY BY THE TA CHIU COMMITTEE TO +PACIFY THE SPIRITS OF THOSE KILLED BY PIRATES PREVIOUS CENTURIES.+

MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO WATCH THE ONE-HOUR PROCESSION, STARTING AT 2.30 P.M.

IS

THIS YEAR 2,000 RESIDENTS FROM CHEUNG CHAU WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESSION INCLUDING A PARADE OF SHRINES AND FLOATS, FAMOUS CHIU CHOW GONG AND DRUM PERFORMANCES, TRADITIONAL CHINESE FOLK DANCES AND LION AND UNICORN DANCES.

TWO HUNDRED STUDENTS FROM ST. MARGARET'S GIRLS' COLLEGE AND THE BUDDHIST TAI KWONG MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL TAKE PART IN THE PROCESSION, PERFORMING FOLK DANCES OF ASIAN COUNTRIES.

THE ARMY'S ROYAL GREEN JACKETS WILL PROVIDE THE BAND MUSIC.

AS FOR THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL, COMMENCING TOMORROW (SUNDAY) THERE WILL BE NIGHTLY PERFORMANCES CF CHINESE OPERAS AND CHANTING OF PRAYERS BY TAOIST PRIESTS.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL WILL BE A BIG SCRAMBLE FOR BUND FIXED ON THREE HIGH TOWERS WHICH WILL START AT MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING OF THE TA CHIU+ PROCESSION ON CHEUNG CHAU. AS THERE ARE LIMITED NUMBER OF PLACES AT A PRESS STAND PROVIDED BY THE TA CHIU COMMITTEE, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO TELEPHONE MR. PETER CHCI OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADINISTRATION, TEL. NO. 3-3502465, TO GIVE THE NAMES OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES NOMINATED TO COVER THE EVENT BEFORE NOON ON MONDAY (MAY 8).

SPECIAL PRESS BADGES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION AT G.I.3. PRESS BOXES ON MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A FERRY, MAN CHOI,

MAR CHOI, WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO NEWSMEN AND INVITED GUESTS AT QUEEN'S PIER. IT WILL LEAVE FOR CHEUNG CHAU AT 12.30 P.M. ON TUESDAY (MAY 9) AND 13 SCHEDULED TO RETURN BY 5 P..

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