XN000022-1978-12-23 — Page 5

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1978

BUSY CHRISTMAS FOR TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL ORGANISERS

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THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS WILL SEE A TEAM OF SKILLED WORKERS BUSILY HAMMERING, PLASTERING AND PAINTING TO PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES TO THE RENOVATIONS OF THE TSUEN WAN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY HALL WHICH WILL BE THE PRINCIPAL VENUE FOR TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES.

CONTRACTORS OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR EARLY ONE MONTH TO CONVERT THE HALL INTO A SPACIOUS AUDITORIUM TO ACCOMMODATE 1,000-STRONG AUDIENCE.

ON TOP OF THE RENOVATION WORK, ADDITIONAL LIGHTING, AUD 10 AND STAGE EQUIPMENT USED FOR THEATRICAL PLAYS, CONCERTS AND MUSICAL SHOWS ARE BEING INSTALLED TO MAKE THE VENUE MORE SUITABLE FOR THE PERFORMERS.

THE MODIFICATION IS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ONE OF THE THREE KEY SPONSORS OF THE TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG.

THE TWO OTHER SPONSORS ARE THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AND THE DISTRICT CULTURE AND RECREATION CO-ORDINATING ASSOCIATION.

MR. BENJAMIN TANG, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE FESTIVAL'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THE COST OF THE MODIFICATION WOULD COME FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S $80,000 CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE OVERALL FESTIVAL BUDGET OF $300,000, TWO-THIRDS OF WHICH WERE ALLOCATED FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD.

+DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD, HE SAID, +EIGHT OF THE 25 PERFORMANCES WILL BE STAGED IN THE CONVERTED HALL, AND I AM SURE THE PERFORMERS AND THE AUDIENCE WILL BE SATISFIED WITH OUR MOD IF ICATION. +

THE PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE THE MAJOR PERFORMANCES BY THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA THE HONG KONG CHILDREN'S CHOIR, THE HONG KONG FOLK DANCE TROUPE, THE TSUEN WAN YOUTH DRAMA GROUP AND THE NORTHCOTE PLAYERS.

+THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA CONCERT WILL BE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL'S GRAND OPENING TO BE HELD AT THE SCHOOL ON JANUARY 1,+ MR. TANG SAID.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES WILL CUT THE RIBBON TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE PILOT PROGRAMME TO BRING ART AND CULTURE TO THE NEW TOWN.

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