XN000022-1980-06-14 — Page 3

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 1980

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SENIOR OFFICIALS LAUNCH NEW DRAGON BOATS

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ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI KAM, AND THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

DR C.T. WONG, TODAY DOTTED THE EYES OF TWO NEW DRAGON BOATS WHICH WILL BE TAKING PART IN THE TAI PO DRAGON BOAT RACES NEXT TUESDAY (JUNE 17). THE DISTRICT OFFICER TAI PO, MR NICHOLAS NG, DOTTED THE EYES OF A THIRD BOAT.

THE CEREMONY, AT THE TAI WONG YEH TEMPLE, YUEN CHAU TSAI STARTED WITH RELIGIOUS RITES. AMID THE SOUNDS OF CHINESE TRUMPETS, DRUMS AND GONGS, THE CHAIRMAN OF TAI PO DRAGON BOAT RACE COMMITTEE, MR STEPHEN WONG, OFFERED WINE, A ROAST PIG, A CHICKEN AND OTHER DELICACIES TO TAI WONG YEH - THE PATRON GOD OF LOCAL FISHERMEN.

IT WAS FOLLOWED BY CHANTING OF PRAYERS IN THE HAKKA DIALECT BY A VILLAGE ELDER.

MR CHUI, DR WONG AND MR NG THEN DOTTED THE EYES OF THE NEW DRAGON BOATS. LEGEND HAS IT THAT THE DOTTING OF EYES GIVES DRAGONS +LIFE AND THIS PREPARES THE BOATS FOR THE RACES.

AN EXHIBITION RACE BETWEEN THE THREE NEW BOATS WAS HELD IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CEREMONY.

THE TAI PO DRAGON BOAT RACES ON TUESDAY WILL BE HELD AT SHUEN WAN HOI, ALONG THE MAIN DAM OF PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR, STARTING AT 10.30 AM.

FORTY TEAMS, REPRESENTING LOCAL FISHERMEN, SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, COMMERCIAL FIRMS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE ENTERED.

UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION.

GRADUATION OF RECRUIT PRISON OFFICERS

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ANOTHER BATCH OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE JOINED THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT TOOK PART IN A PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY TODAY ON COMPLETING THEIR INITIAL TRAINING.

ON PARADE WERE 22 OFFICERS AND 67 ASSISTANT OFFICERS, INCLUDING THREE WOMEN ASSISTANT OFFICERS.

THE CAPTAIN-IN-CHARGE OF THE ROYAL NAVY IN HONG KONG, CAPTAIN R.W. MOLAND, TOOK THE SALUTE AND PRESENTED GOLDEN WHISTLES TO THE BEST TWO OF THEM, MR TSE KWONG-MAN AND MR LAM KAI-YUEN, BOTH ASSISTANT OFFICERS.

ADDRESSING THE PARADE, CAPTAIN MOLAND TOLD THE RECRUITS TO KEEP IN MIND THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE OF THE PRISON SERVICE, WHICH IS THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE THE IR PLACE BACK IN SOCIETY, AND IN SO DOING COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF CRIME.

/HE TOLD