XN000022-1982-01-31 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 1982

CHINESE FOLKLORE IN LANDMARK

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THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, OFFICIATED TODAY (SUNDAY) AT LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN THE LANDMARK, ORGANISED BY THE SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHINESE FOLKLORE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION.

THE SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED IN 1976 TO PROMOTE, FOSTER AND IMPROVE PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF AND INTEREST IN CHINESE FOLKLORE.

TODAY'S THREE-AND-A-HALF HOUR PROGRAMME STARTED WITH AN EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY BY MR AKERS-JONES AND MR CHIU YU-HE I, CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE CELEBRATIONS, AND INCLUDED CHINESE CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, A LANTERN AUCTION CONDUCTED BY TELEVISION STARS, AND ARTS AND CRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS WHICH INCLUDED FORTUNE TELLING, CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY, CANDY-MAK ING AND WATER PAINTING.

MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE YUM SUT YEAR (THE CURRENT LUNAR YEAR) HAD BEEN WELCOMED WITH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES A SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY, FOOTBALL MATCHES, HORSE-RACING, AND A CIRCUS FOR THE CHILDREN, ARTS FESTIVALS AND PARTIES FOR THE OLD, THE HANDICAPPED AND THE UNDERPRIVILEGED.

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+THIS MUST BE OUR AIM, TO SPREAD REGULAR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION FOR ALL AGES INTO EVERY DISTRICT,+ HE SAID.

HE SAID THE LANTERN AUCTION WAS A PART OF THIS EXCITING PROGRAMME, TOGETHER WITH ITS IMAGINATIVE AND COLOURFUL CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AND SIDE-SHOWS.

+THESE PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES WILL, I HOPE, BE A HAPPY PROLOGUE TO A YEAR OF SUCCESS, PROSPERITY AND STABILITY NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, BUT ALSO TO OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS AND VISITORS, + MR AKERS-JONES SAID.

THE SOCIETY ASSISTED IN ORGANISING LANTERN CARNIVALS IN 1977 AND 1979 AND A NEW YEAR GATHERING IN 1979. IT ALSO SPONSORED THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN CONDUCTING AN ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY IN SAI KUNG DISTRICT. IN 1980, THE SOCIETY STAGED THE YUEN SIU CELEBRATIONS AND MID-AUTUMN LANTERN CARNIVAL.

ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY'S CELEBRATIONS WAS MRS KITTY SIU, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIETY.

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