XN000022-1984-03-16 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984

HONG KONG DRUMS AND CYMBALS AT CARDIFF CIVIC CENTRE

********

SEVERAL HUNDRED INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE WELSH COMMUNITY WERE TREATED TO A RARE PERFORMANCE OF CHINESE DANCE AND MUSIC YESTERDAY (MARCH 15) WHEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STAGED A GALA EVENING IN CARDIFF.

THE PRESENTATION WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES BEING STAGED IN THE REGIONS AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S LATEST PROMOTION OF HONG KONG IN BRITAIN. THE PROMOTION WAS LAUNCHED WITH A GALA EVENING IN LONDON THREE DAYS AGO.

THE SOUND OF DRUMS AND CYMBALS RANG THROUGH THE CITY HALL IN CARD IFF'S CIVIC CENTRE AND BRIGHT COLOURS FILLED THE STAGE AS THE SHOW WAS OPENED WITH A NORTHERN LION DANCE, THIS AND OTHER ORIGINAL WORKS BASED ON HISTORICAL CHINESE THEMES WERE PERFORMED BY 14 ARTISTES OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S HONG KONG DANCE COMPANY VISITING BRITAIN SPECIALLY FOR THE GALA EVENTS. THE AUDIENCE WAS ALSO GIVEN A TASTE OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MUSIC IN THE FORM OF A PIPA SOLO AND ER-HU SOLO PERFORMED BY TWO MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SHOW WAS A MULTI-SCREEN AUDIO VISUAL SPECTACULAR SHOWING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AT WORK AND AT PLAY. IT ILLUSTRATED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HOW HONG KONG HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BRITAIN AS A TRADING PARTNER WITH HONG KONG.

THE GALA EVENING WAS ATTENDED BY THE LORD MAYOR OF CARDIFF, MRS OLWEN WATKIN. AT A RECEPTION THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, SIR JACK CATER, AND MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET CIVIC DIGNITARIES, BUSINESSMEN, SENIOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS IN WALES.

THE WELSH HAD FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HONG KONG THROUGH A SPECIAL SIX-PAGE SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY THE CARDIFF NEWSPAPER, THE WESTERN MAIL.

SIMILAR GALA EVENINGS WILL BE HELD IN NEWCASTLE AND GLASGOW NEXT WEEK.

/2