XN000022-1980-07-09 — Page 37

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1980

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LONDON TO SEE HK IN MINIATURE

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A FULL MASTED TRADITIONAL CHINESE JUNK WILL SAIL UP THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND AROUND THE KENTISH COAST TO THE THAMES ESTUARY AS PART OF THE HONG KONG FESTIVAL IN LONDON THIS SEPTEMBER.

+HOLIDAY-MAKERS AT VARIOUS SEASIDE RESORTS ON THE SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND WILL PERHAPS PAUSE FROM BUILDING SANDCASTLES AND BUYING ICECREAM FOR THE KIDS IN ORDER TO STARE IN WONDER AT THE SIGHT OF IT TACKING ACROSS THEIR HORIZON,+ THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (PUBLICITY) OF THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR PETER MOSS SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF THE PEAK, MR MOSS SAID WE WERE SENDING HONG KONG IN MINIATURE TO LONDON AT THIS FESTIVAL WITH DRAGON BOATS ON THE THAMES, LION DANCES, LANTERN PROCESSIONS AND AN OLD-FASHIONED CHINESE MARKÉT NOT A TRADE FAIR THIS TIME -- TO CORRECT SCME MISCONCEPTIONS.

IN SIMPLE TERMS, LONDON, AND INDEED BRITAIN AS A WHOLE, SEES HONG KONG AS A LABEL ON PRODUCTS THAT COMPETE WITH ITS OWN INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT.

+THERE ARE ALSO MANY IN BRITAIN WHO CHOOSE TO REPRESENT HONG KONG AS A PICTURE POSTCARD WHOSE PRETTY WATERFRONT SKYSCRAPERS CONCEAL FACTORIES THAT ARE LITTLE MORE THAN SWEAT SHOPS, HE SAID.

+SO INSTEAD OF CALCULATORS AND CAMERAS WE ARE SENDING REAL LIVE PEOPLE WHO STILL KNOW HOW TO MAKE GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED MOONCAKES AND NOODLES, WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY PRESERVED THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS, WHO TAKE PRIDE JUST AS MUCH IN THEIR PLAY AS IN THE IR WORK.

+PEOPLE WHO, IN SPITE OF BEING REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS, ARE NOT ROBOTS BUT HUMAN BEINGS WITH A GREAT LUST FOR LIFE AND A REMARKABLE CAPACITY FOR ENJOYING IT, HE SAID,

MR MOSS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE UNIQUE COMMUNITY SPIRIT WHICH WORKS IN HONG KONG+ WHICH NOT ONLY MADE IT POSSIBLE TO DREAM UP WILD IDEAS SUCH AS THIS FESTIVAL BUT TO BRING THEM TO PRACTICAL REALITY.

*THE FACT IS THAT HERE IN HONG KONG, AS PERHAPS IN FEW OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD, EXISTS THE KIND OF IMAGINATION, ENTERPRISE AND LARGENESS OF SPIRIT THAT ENABLES OUR SOCIETY TO SEIZE UPON THE STUFF THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF AND MAKE THEM MATERIALISE IN CONCRETE FORM, HE SAID.

SOME 250 000 VISTORS ARE EXPECTED AT BATTERSEA PARK IN LONDON ON THE TWO DAYS OF THE FESTIVAL ON SEPTEMBER 20 AND 21.

ASIDE FROM THAT QUARTER OF A MILLION WHO MAY SEE THE FESTIVAL AT CLOSE RANGE THERE ARE LITERALLY MILLIONS OF OTHERS IN BRITAIN WHO WILL READ ABOUT IT, HEAR ABOUT IT AND CATCH GLIMPSES OF IT THROUGH THE PRESS, RADIO AND TELEVISION, MR MOSS ADDED.

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