XN000022-1979-02-25 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1979

DRESS REHEARSAL OF YOUTH RALLY FOR H.R.H. THE

PRINCE OF WALES ******

SPECTATORS AT YUEN LONG STADIUM COULD HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN FOR THINKING THEY WERE SEEING DOUBLE+ TODAY (SUNDAY) WHEN AN OPEN CROWN ROLLS ROYCE ARRIVED AND BEARING A YOUNG ENGLISH MAN WEARING A DARK SUIT.

MANY ON-LOOKERS THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT THAT HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE PRINCE OF WALES HAD ARRIVED IN HONG KONG A WEEK EARLY, JUDGING BY +OOHS+ AND +AHS+ WHICH GREETED THE YOUNG MAN'S ARRIVAL.

IT WAS NOT, OF COURSE, PRINCE CHARLES BUT HIS OFFICIAL +STAND-IN+, CHIEF INSPECTOR DAVID RONALD OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE WHO HAS BEEN SURROGAT PRINCE FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS AT REHEARSALS FOR THE FORTHCOMING ROYAL VISIT.

CHIEF INSPECTOR RONALD, WHO IS ATTACHED TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS, WAS NOT CHOSEN FOR HIS LIKENESS TO PRINCE CHARLES BUT ON-LOOKERS TODAY SAW A CLOSE RESEMBLANCE.

+NO BODY HAD SAID BEFORE THAT I LOOK LIKE PRINCE CHARLES BUT SINCE THE REHEARSALS, QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAVE REMARKED THAT THERE IS IN FACT A LIKENESS, + SAID INSPECTOR RONALD,

+ BUT I AM SURE THEY ONLY THINK SO BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO

BE PLAYING HIS PART. +

INSPECTOR RONALD SAYS HE IS ENJOYING HIS ROLE. SETTLING INTO THE BACK SEAT OF THE ROLLS, HE SAID, +1 CAN SEE HOW YOU WOULD BECOME USED TO THIS.+

SEVERAL HUNDRED YUEN LONG RESIDENTS WATCHED TODAY'S REHEARSAL INCLUDING THE DOTTING OF THE EYES OF A 145 FEET LONG SILVER DRAGON A COLOURFUL YOUTH DISPLAY AND MUSIC PROVIDED BY A MASS BAND OF MORÉ THAN 300 PLAYERS.

NEARLY 1,000 PEOPLE ARE TAKING PART IN THE DISPLAY AND DURING THE WEEK WILL BE POLISHING UP THE IR PERFORMANCE FOR PRINCE CHARLES' OFFICIAL VISIT TO YUEN LONG NEXT MONDAY, MARCH 5.

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