XN000022-1982-12-15 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1982

PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR A BRIGHTER CHRISTMAS

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COLOURFUL FESTIVE LIGHTINGS WILL BRIGHTEN UP URBAN TOWN CENTRES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR THE COMING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS.

IN ADDITION A SERIES OF ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY VARIOUS DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR LOCAL PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE THE FESTIVALS.

DETAILS OF THE LIGHTING ARRANGEMENTS AND CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES WERE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR ALBERT LAM.

ALSO PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE WAS CHIEF TRANSPORT OFFICER, MRS DOROTHY CHAN, WHO GAVE DETAILS OF SPECIAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND OTHER TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS TO COPE WITH THE EXPECTED DEMAND DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD.

MR LAM SAID TRADITIONAL LIGHTING DISPLAYS, JOINTLY FINANCED BY DISTRICT BOARDS AND COMMERCIAL FIRMS, WOULD BE PUT ON IN CENTRAL, EAST TSIM SHA TSUI, CHAI WAN, TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN.

IN CENTRAL AND EAST TSIM SHA TSUI, THE DECORATION EXPENSES WILL BE COVERED ENTIRELY BY SHOP OWNERS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS

IN THE AREAS.

THE LIGHTING DISPLAYS IN CHAI WAN, TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN - THE FIRST LARGE SCALE DISPLAYS EVER ORGANISED IN THESE DISTRICTS WILL COST A TOTAL OF $335 000 WHICH WILL BE MET BY THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT BOARDS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS.

A SWITCH-ON CEREMONY FOR CENTRAL WILL TAKE PLACE THIS EVENING, FOLLOWED BY EAST TSIM SHA TSUI TOMORROW (THURSDAY) EVENING, CHAI WAN ON SATURDAY (DECEMBER 18), SHA TIN ON TUESDAY (DECEMBER 21) AND TSUEN WAN ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 22).

MR LAM ADDED THAT A PHASED SWITCH-OFF PROGRAMME OF LIGHTING HAD BEEN WORKED OUT FOR CENTRAL AND EAST TSIM SHA TSUI ON CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S EVES, STARTING AT 1 AM AND ENDING AT 2.30 AM.

+THIS SHOULD ENABLE PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTENDED PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES BY LEAVING THE MAJOR AREAS AT DIFFERENT TIMES, HE SAID.

THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI, HAVE ORGANISED A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMMES TO ENTERTAIN THE HOLIDAY CROWDS.

THESE INCLUDE DISCO NIGHTS, CARNIVALS, CONCERTS, SKATING SHOWS, CHRISTMAS CAROLS, VARIETY SHOWS, TELE MATCHES AND FILM SHOWS.

THE MAJOR CITY+ ATTRACTION IS EXPECTED TO BE AT EAST TSIM SHA TSUI, WHERE THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD AND COMMERCIAL RADIO ARE PLANNING VARIETY SHOWS FEATURING TOP SHOW BUSINESS PERSONAL ITY FOR BOTH CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S EVES.

/BOTH SHOWS,