XN000022-1979-03-02 — Page 10

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1979

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IF ENQUIRIES ARE IN RESPECT OF PREMISES IN HONG KONG ISLAND OR IN KOWLOON THEY SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO NEW MERCURY HOUSE 17TH FLOOR, 22 FENWICK STREET, HONG KONG (TEL. NO. 5-281424) IF IN NEW KOWLOON OR THE NEW TERRITORIES TO TAI SANG COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 24-34 HENNESSY ROAD, SEVENTH FLOOR, HONG KONG

(TEL. NO. 5-284047 FOR NEW KOWLOON AND 5-284037 FOR NEW TERRITORIES).

+ IT IS EMPHASISED THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE LODGING OF A PROPOSAL OR AN APPEAL, RATES MUST BE PAID BY THE DUE DATE. IN THE CASE OF RATE DEMANDS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER 1979 THIS MEANS THAT PAYMENT MUST BE MADE BY THE END OF APRIL,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

NO SCRAMBLE AT THIS YEAR'S BUN FESTIVAL

*****

APPROVAL HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE ORGANISERS OF THE CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL TO ERECT BUN TOWERS AGAIN AT THIS YEAR'S EVENT BUT, IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE WILL BE NO SCRAMBLE.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE

NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWERS WOULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO SUBMISSION OF SPECIFICATIONS TO, AND INSPECTION BY, THE AUTHORITIES.

+THE DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN FOLLOWING A MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES AND MEMBERS OF THE CHEUNG CHAU RURAL COMMITTEE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS OF THE RURAL COMMITTEE HAD GIVEN AN ASSURANCE THAT THE MIDNIGHT SCRAMBLE FOR BUNS PROGRAMME WOULD BE CANCELLED THIS YEAR.

THE BUNS INSTEAD WOULD BE TAKEN DOWN FROM THE TOWERS BY THE ORGANISERS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO LOCAL VILLAGERS AFTERWARDS.

LAST YEAR, TWO OF THE THREE 70-FOOT HIGH TOWERS COLLAPSED DURING THE SCRAMBLE FOR BUNS, RESULTING IN 24 PEOPLE BEING INJURED.

THE GOVERNMENT LATER ANNOUNCED THAT IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE BUN TOWERS SCRAMBLE AT THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL SHOULD COME TO AN END.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT WISH IN ANY WAY, DETRACT FROM WHAT WAS A VERY POPULAR AND COLOURFUL FESTIVAL.

TO,

+THIS AGREEMENT TO ALLOW TALL BUN TOWERS WILL BE REVIEWED AFTER THE COMING FESTIVAL IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHAT CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED, HE ADDED.

THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL IS EXPECTED TO BE HELD IN MAY, BUT NO FINAL DATE HAS YET BEEN FIXED.

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