XN000022-1978-11-06 — Page 5

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SNT OPENS TUEN MUN FESTIVAL

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1978

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, THIS (MONDAY) EVENING DESCRIBED THE TUEN MÜN FESTIVAL AS A MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN, AND FORECAST THAT IT WOULD BECOME A REGULAR EVENT IN THE LIFE OF THE TOWN AND THE HALF MILLION PEOPLE WHO WILL EVENTUALLY LIVE IN IT.

MR. AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE FESTIVAL THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE HELD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

HIS REMARKS PRECEDED A LIVE TELECAST OF THE SPECTACULAR VARIETY SHOW ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1,000 GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AND WATCHED BY AN AUDIENCE OF ABOUT 2 MILLION PEOPLE ON THE POPULAR TVB PROGRAMME +ENJOY YOURSELF TONIGHT+.

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BEFORE HE OFFICIALLY SWITCHED ON THE NINE-DAY FESTIVAL, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID, THE FESTIVAL WAS ORGANISED WITH TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES. FIRSTLY, IT AIMS AT AROUSING RESIDENTS' INTEREST IN CULTURE AND RECREATION TO PAVE THE WAY FOR OPTIMUM UTILISATION OF THE CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES SOON TO BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN.

SECONDLY, IT AIMS AT BUILDING UP THE COMMUNITY AND TO INSTILL A STRONGER SENSE OF BELONGING THROUGH THE INVOLVEMENT OF RESIDENTS

IN ORGANISING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE FESTIVAL.

+SEEING ALL THE PROGRAMMES PLANNED AND THE RESIDENTS' FAVOURABLE RESPONSE, I CAN SAY THAT THE OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED TO SATISFY EVEN THE HIGHEST EXPECTATION.

+THE SUCCESS OF THE FESTIVAL BELONGS TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF TUEN MUN AND I AM SURE IT WILL BECOME A REGULAR EVENT IN THE LIFE OF THE TOWN AND ITS PEOPLE,+ MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.

THE FESTIVAL OPENS UNTIL SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 12) WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF DAILY ACTIVITIES COSTING MORE THAN $200,000. THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD HAS ALLOCATED $50,000 OF ITS FUNDS TO FINANCE THE FESTIVAL.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAMME INCLUDE A SERIES OF CONCERTS BY THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THE HONG KONG UNITED CHINESE ORCHESTRA AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE BRASS BAND.

THERE WILL ALSO BE DRAMA AND DANCING PERFORMANCES, A FILM SHOW AND FOOTBALL MATCHES AS WELL AS COMPETITIONS IN DRAMA, SINGING AND DANCING.

THE FESTIVAL WILL END WITH A GRAND CARNIVAL AT THE TUEN MUN PLAYGROUND ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 12) TO BE OFFICIATED BY THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. OSWALD CHEUNG.

EARLIER TODAY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. PETER NG AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FESTIVAL'S ORGANISING COMMITTEE. MR. LAU WONG-FAT JOINTLY OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FESTIVAL -- THE TUEN MUN ART EXHIBITION 78'. THE EXHIBITION FEATURES MORE THAN 200 EXHIBITS AND OPENS DAILY AT THE HOH FUK TONG COLLEGE UNTIL SATURDAY.

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