XN000022-1981-05-06 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1981

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CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL PROCESSION ON SUNDAY

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SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THIS YEAR'S CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL MAIN PROCESSION ON SUNDAY (MAY 10).

MORE THAN 2 000 PEOPLE FROM 20 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, SCHOOLS AND SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS WILL TAKE PART IN THE PROCESSION WHICH IS WATCHED BY LARGE CROWDS ALONG THE ROUTE.

THE PROCESSION, HELD EVERY YEAR TO PACIFY THE SPIRITS OF PEOPLE KILLED BY PIRATES IN PAST CENTURIES, WILL FEATURE A PARADE OF ALL THE SHRINES FROM THE ISLAND'S TEMPLES, THE TREASURE SWORD OF PAK TI TEMPLE, FLOATS, UNICORN AND LION DANCES, FAMOUS CHIU CHAU GONG AND DRUM PERFORMANCES AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE MUSIC AND DANCES.

THE ONE-AND-A-HALF HOUR PROCESSION WILL SET OFF FROM PAK TI TEMPLE AT 2.30 PM, PASS THE GUEST STANDS IN PRAYA STREET AND RETURN TO THE TEMPLE.

THE PROCESSION IS REPEATED THE FOLLOWING DAY, ALSO STARTING FROM THE TEMPLE AT 2.30 PM, BUT TAKING A DIFFERENT ROUTE.

AS IN PAST YEARS, THERE WILL BE NO BUN SCRAMBLE. INSTEAD, BUNS, WHICH ACCORDING TO LEGEND BRING LUCK TO THE RECIPIENTS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ON MONDAY AT 10 AM.

THE FESTIVAL STARTS TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AND ENDS NEXT WEDNESDAY.

DURING THE FESTIVAL, ISLANDERS DO NOT EAT FISH OR MEAT.

THERE WILL BE CHINESE OPERA PERFORMANCES EVERY NIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL. TAOIST PRIESTS WILL CHANT PRAYERS AT THE PAK TI TEMPLE ON SATURDAY AT NOON, WHILE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ANDREW FOK, WILL OFFICIATE AT A LION AND UNICORN EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY AT THE TEMPLE AT 3 PM THE SAME DAY.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ARRANGED FINANCING FOR BUILDING THREE 13-METRE TALL BUN TOWERS.

THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION IS SPONSORING THE FESTIVAL, WHICH IS BECOMING A POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION.

THE CELEBRATIONS ARE CO-ORDINATED BY AN ORGANISING COMMITTEE ON WHICH CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE REPRESENTED.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF TO COVER THE GRAND PROCESSION ON SUNDAY (MAY 10).

SPECIAL BADGES FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM.

A FERRY, THE MAN YAN, WILL TAKE THE PRESS AND OTHER INVITED GUESTS TO CHEUNG CHAU. IT LEAVES QUEEN'S PIER AT 12.30 PM ON SUNDAY AND IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN BY 4.30 PM. STAFF OF THE NTA INFORMATION UNIT WILL TRAVEL ON THE FERRY.

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