XN000022-1982-02-12 — Page 4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982

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KEEN ELECTION FORECAST FOR YUEN LONG

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ALL SEATS IN THE SIX YUEN LONG CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE KEENLY CONTESTED WHEN THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 4, THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL.

HE SAID HE WAS SURE THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT WOULD COME FORWARD TO CHOOSE THOSE WHO THEY BELIEVED COULD BEST HELP THEM TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM OF COMMUNITY LIFE AND TO FACE AND SOLVE FUTURE PROBLEMS.

*THE DISTRICT BOARD DEPENDS ON THE SUPPORT OF ALL THE PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THE ELECTIONS HAVE THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY, AS DOES EVERY RESIDENT IN YUEN LONG, TO PRESS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO LIFE IN THE DISTRICT, HE SAID.

MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE FIRST VERY SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR, THE RESULT OF IMAGINATION, DRIVE AND COOPERATION FOR WHICH YUEN LONG WAS WELL-KNOWN.

THIS YEAR THE DISTRICT BOARD AND LOCAL LEADERS HAD ONCE AGAIN GIVEN FULL SUPPORT TO THE ARTS FESTIVAL TO PRODUCE A SPLEND ID 16-DAY PROGRAMME OF GREAT VARIETY.

+APART FROM PROMOTING THE ARTS, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE AND MANAGE A WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES: THE TOWN HALL, THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE YUEN LONG STADIUM, THE LUT SAU HALL, AND THE SWIMMING POOL IN THE SUMMER OF THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

THIS ZEAL AND INTEREST WAS DEMONSTRATED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS

IN THE FORTHCOMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

HE CONGRATULATED THE SECOND YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND WISHED THE YUEN LONG COMMUNITY 16 DAYS OF DELIGHT AND ENJOYMENT.

THE 26-EVENT PROGRAMME INCLUDE CONCERTS, CANTONESE OPERA, FOLK DANCING, DRAMA, PUPPET SHOWS, A VARIETY SHOW, JAPANESE FILM APPRECIATION, A BALLET PERFORMANCE, A CHESS COMPETITION, EXHIBITIONS AND TALKS.

THEY WILL BE HELD AT THE LUT SAU HALL, YUEN LONG TOWN HALL OR LOCAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

ENTRY TO MOST EVENTS IS FREE.

THE FESTIVAL, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD AT A COST OF $350 000, IS EXPECTED TO BE ATTENDED BY 25 000 PEOPLE THIS YEAR.

ALSO ATTENDING TODAY'S OPENING WERE FESTIVAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR MA NING-HEI= THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FUNG KWOK-KEUNG- AND LOCAL LEADERS.

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