XN000022-1983-02-20 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1983

CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE AT SPORTS FESTIVAL

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THE SHAM SHUI PO SPORTS FESTIVAL OPENED IN A BLAZE OF COLOUR AT THE MONG KOK STADIUM TODAY (SUNDAY).

A CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE PREVAILED AS THE 3 000 PLUS SPECTATORS CHEERED ON THE HUNDREDS OF CONTESTANTS AND PERFORMERS SHOWING OFF THEIR SKILLS IN THE OPENING EVENTS WHICH FEATURED FOLK DANCES, LONG DISTANCE RUNNING AND A RELAY RACE.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY WAS A TELEMATCH BETWEEN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES AND TELEVISION ARTISTES.

THE FESTIVAL IS A JOINT EFFORT BY THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD, URBAN COUNCIL, RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, AND OTHER CIVIC BODIES IN THE DISTRICT.

FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, RESIDENTS WILL BE TREATED TO A VARIETY OF SPORT AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING A DISCO AND FOLK DANCE EVENING, GYMNASTIC DISPLAYS, CHILDREN SPORTS DAYS, A CROSS COUNTRY RACE, FENCING DEMONSTRATIONS, A SWIMMING GALA, AND VARIOUS OTHER BALL GAMES AND COMPETITIONS.

THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, OFFICIATED AT TODAY'S OPENING CEREMONY WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE, MR CHOW KWEN-LIM, AND LOCAL CELEBRITIES.

MR CHOW SAID THE FESTIVAL WAS AIMED AT FOSTERING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AMONG DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS TO CULTIVATE PUBLIC INTEREST IN SPORTS AND DEVELOP A SENSE OF DISTRICT IDENTITY THROUGH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY RESIDENTS.

IN HIS ADDRESS, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THE URBAN COUNCIL'S PARTICIPATION IN THE FESTIVAL UNDERLINED ITS AIM TO STRENGTHEN ITS LIAISON AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL AND TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE ITS SERVICES IN ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORTS.

ENTRY FORMS AND DETAILS OF THE FESTIVAL PROGRAMMES ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AND SUB-OFFICES.

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