XN000022-1980-08-21 — Page 4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1980

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DRAGON BOATS LAUNCHED ON THE THAMES

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THE COLOUR AND FLAVOUR OF ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST POPULAR FESTIVALS WAS SEEN IN BRITAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN THREE DRAGON BOATS WERE +BROUGHT TO LIFE+ AT A TRADITIONAL EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY ON THE THAMES IN LONDON.

MR BRIAN SHAW, CHAIRMAN OF FURNESS WITHY, MR LAU YEE, AN ELDER OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY IN BRITAIN, AND MR DAVID FORD, HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, DOTTED THE EYES ON THE DRAGON'S HEAD PROWS AT ST KATHERINE'S PIER.

BEFORE THE CEREMONY, A TAOIST PRIEST, MR LAW YIN, DRESSED IN TRADITIONAL FLOWING ROBES, OFFERED PRAYERS AT AN ALTAR FOR THE GOOD FORTUNE OF THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN.

THE ALTAR ITSELF BORE OFFERINGS OF A ROAST PIG, STEAMED CHICKEN AND FRUIT AS IS THE CUSTOM ON SUCH OCCASIONS.

WHEN DOTTING THE EYES OF THE DRAGONS, MR SHAW, MR LAU AND MR FORD UTTERED THE ANCIENT PRAYER FOR FAIR WIND AND RAIN.

IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, A TEAM MADE UP MAINLY OF HONG KONG STUDENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM CREWED ONE OF THE BOATS ON THE RIVER. TO THE RHYTHMIC BEAT OF GONGS AND DRUMS THEY PADDLED THE CRAFT UPRIVER AGAINST A STRONG CURRENT TOWARDS TOWER BRIDGE.

RIVERSIDERS AND TOURISTS CRUISING THE THAMES ON PLEASURE CRAFT WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE WHEN THEY SAW THE DRAGON BOAT BY THE BRIDGE -- ONE OF LONDON'S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS.

THE CREW PADDLED THE BOAT UP AND DOWN RIVER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THEN RETURNED TO THE PIER TO COMPLETE YET ANOTHER TRADITIONAL CUSTOM OF THE OCCASION THEY SHARED OUT THE ROAST PIG THAT WAS ON THE ALTAR AS AN OFFERING FOR GOOD FORTUNE.

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WITH THE EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY COMPLETED, THE 18 TEAMS WHO MAD ENTERED TO COMPETE IN RACES DURING THE HONG KONG IN LONDON+ FESTIVAL AT BATTERSEA PARK ON THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 20 - 21 ILL FEG IN PRACTICE SESSIONS ON THE THAMES SOON.

THE TEAMS WILL COMPRISE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL CHINESE COMMUNITY LONDON SPORTING CLUBS AND BUSINESS HOUSES WITH HONG KONG CONNECTIONS. THEY WILL BE COMPETING FOR TROPHIES DONATED BY THE C.Y. TUNG GROUP.

THE DRAGON BOATS THEMSELVES WERE DONATED BY THE TUNG GROUP AND SHIPPED FROM HONG KONG BY ORIENT OVERSEAS CONTAINER LINE (OOCL).