XN000022-1979-03-04 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1979

PRINCE CHARLES DELIGHTED TO BE IN HONG KONG

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HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES SAID THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING THAT HE WAS DELIGHTED TO BE IN HONG KONG AND HE LOOKED FORWARD TO MANY OPPORTUNITIES OF RETURNING.

HE SAID THIS AT A CONCERT OF THE SEVENTH HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL HELD AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL.

THE CONCERT WAS PERFORMED BY THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, HONG KONG'S OWN ORCHESTRA WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED ON A PROFESSIONAL BASIS IN 1974.

PRINCE CHARLES, ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE, WAS RECEIVED AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE CITY HALL BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR. A. DE O. SALES AND MRS. SALES AND WAS WELCOMED IN THE FOYER BY ŞİR RUN RUN SHAW, CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL COMMITTEE, A GUARD-OF-HONOUR WAS PROVIDED BY CADETS OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES.

THE PRINCE'S ARRIVAL IN THE CONCERT HALL WAS SIGNALLED BY A ROLL OF DRUMS, FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, THE PARTY THEN SETTLED DOWN TO LISTEN TO THE OPENING ITEM OF THE PHILHARMONIC CONCERT, WEBER'S OVERTURE TO OBERON, UNDER THE BATON OF GUEST CONDUCTOR MR. ALUN FRANCIS.

ALSO APPEARING IN THE CONCERT WAS MISS MELODY WU, A LOCAL PIANIST WHO WAS THE SOLOIST IN THE GRIEG PIANO CONCERTO.

DURING THE CONCERT INTERVAL, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS MET SOME OF THE LEADING CONTRIBUTORS TO HONG KONG'S CULTURAL LIFE AT A RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE IN THE EXHIBITION HALL.

AMONG THE PEOPLE PRESENTED TO THE PRINCE WERE MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL COMMITTEE AND THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC COMMITTEE. A SMALL GROUP OF MUSICIANS, INCLUDING COMPOSERS AND PERFORMERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF CHINESE OPERA AND LOCAL BALLET AND DRAMA GROUPS, WERE ALSO PRESENTED TO PRINCE CHARLES.

THE INTERVAL WAS THEN FOLLOWED BY TCHAIKOVSKY'S 4TH SYMPHONY.

PRINCE CHARLES WAS THE SECOND MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TO HAVE ATTENDED THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL. IN 1977, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE FIFTH HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL IN THE CITY HALL. THE OPENING CONCERT AT THAT TIME WAS ALSO PERFORMED BY THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, CONDUCTED BY HELEN QUÁCH.

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