XN000022-1980-09-18 — Page 3

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1980

2

THE +HONG KONG FESTIVAL QUEEN+ CONTEST SHOULD PROVE AN EYE-CATCHER. CHOSEN FROM AMONG SOME OF THE PRETTIEST GIRLS IN THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY IN THE UK, THE CONTESTANTS WILL PARADE IN TRADITIONAL 'CHEONGSAMS' ON THE MAIN STAGE ON SATURDAY. THE WINNER WILL BE CROWNED BY MISS HONG KONG 1980, WENDA TAI YUET-NGOR, ANOTHER OF THE CELEBRITIES DUE IN LONDON FOR THE FESTIVAL. THE LUCKY WINNER'S PRIZE IS A HOLIDAY FOR TWO IN HONG KONG, SINGAPORE AND MANILA.

DURING THE CONTEST, ATTRACTIVE AIR HOSTESSES FROM HONG KONG'S FLAG-CARRIER, CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, WILL MODEL THEATRICAL COSTUMES WHICH HAVE BEEN WORN IN EPIC CHINESE FILMS PRODUCED BY STUDIOS OWNED BY THE FILM MAGNATE, SIR RUN RUN SHAW,

ONE OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS OF THE FESTIVAL WILL BE THE DRAGON BOAT RACES ON THE THAMES. THE BOATS THEMSELVES ARE TRADITIONAL CRAFT SPECIALLY IMPORTED FOR THE OCCASION AND IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE BOATS WITH THEIR 27-MEN CREWS - WILL HAVE BEEN SEEN IN ACTION IN BRITAIN, OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN EUROPE.

-

CREWS FROM CHINESE COMMUNITIES IN BRITAIN WILL PIT THE IR STRENGTH AGAINST CREWS RAISED FROM THE ROYAL NAVY, ROWING AND CANOE CLUBS, AND BUSINESS HOUSES WITH HONG KONG CONNECTIONS. THEY WILL BE COMPETING OVER THE TWO DAYS OF THE FESTIVAL FOR TROPHIES DONATED BY C.Y. TUNG SHIPPING GROUP.

THE CENTREPIECE OF THE FESTIVAL WILL BE THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE SAILING JUNK +KEYING 11+, WHICH WILL BE MOORED ON THE THAMES AT CHELSEA REACH, BUILT IN A HONG KONG BOATYARD, IT WILL BE THE SECOND CHINESE SAILING JUNK TO BE SEEN IN BRITISH WATERS IN NEARLY 150 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL KEYING ARRIVED IN BRITISH WATERS IN 1848 AND CAUSED QUITE A STIR AMONG LONDONERS. QUEEN VICTORIA WENT ABOARD IT AND CHARLES DICKENS WROTE ABOUT IT IN THE EXAMINER.

+KEYING |

THOUGH NOT AN IDENTICAL TWIN OF ITS ILLUSTRIOUS PREDECESSOR, IS OF A CLASS OF JUNK THAT HAS NOT BEEN BUILT IN HONG KONG FOR 30 YEARS. IT WAS BUILT WITH A DONATION FROM HONG KONG SHIPPING MAGNATE SIR Y.K. PAO, AND WAS SHIPPED TO SOUTHAMPTON FROM WHERE SHE SAILED AROUND THE SOUTH COAST TO LONDON,

SINCE +HONG KONG IN LONDON HAS BEEN TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL IN THE BRITISH TERRITORY, ONE OF ITS MOST SYMBOLIC EVENTS WILL BE ENACTED AT BATTERSEA PARK ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE FESTIVAL. HUNDREDS OF CHINESE AND BRITISH CHILDREN AT THE FESTIVAL WILL BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A LANTERN PARADE. CARRYING AUTHENTIC CHINESE LANTERNS THE CHILDREN WILL WALK ALONG THE MAIN PARADE OF THE PARK AT DUSK, LED BY MISS HONG KONG 1980 AND THE FESTIVAL QUEEN.

AND, TO ROUND OFF THE FESTIVAL IN TRUE CHINESE STYLE, A SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY WILL BE HELD ON THE FINAL EVENING.

THE FESTIVAL IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE GREATER LONDON COUNCIL AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS HOUSES IN BRITAIN.

13