XN000022-1984-05-04 — Page 16

FRIDAY, MAY, 1984

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BIG CROWDS EXPECTED AT BUN FESTIVAL

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THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO FLOCK TO CHEUNG CHAU TO SEE THE TRADITIONAL MAIN PROCESSION OF THE ISLAND'S ANNUAL BUN FESTIVAL ON MONDAY (MAY 7).

THE 90-MINUTE PROCESSION WHICH BEGINS AT 2 PM, WILL FEATURE A PARADE OF ALL THE SHRINES FROM THE ISLAND'S TEMPLES, THE TREASURE SWORD OF PAK TAI, FLOATS, UNICORN AND LION DANCES, GONG AND DRUM PERFORMANCES, AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE MUSIC AND DANCES.

MORE THAN 1 600 PEOPLE FROM 24 ORGANISATIONS, SCHOOLS AND SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS WILL TAKE PART IN THE PARADE WHICH IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL,

THE PROCESSION WILL SET OFF FROM THE PAK TAI TEMPLE, PASSING THROUGH PRAYA STREET TO THE GUEST STAND IN TAI SUN PRAYA FRONT BEFORE RETURNING TO THE TEMPLE VIA OTHER MAIN STREETS ON THE ISLAND.

THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.

THIS YEAR, THE GUEST STAND WILL BE LOCATED ON A RECLAIMED SITE. THE BIGGER STAND WILL ACCOMMODATE MORE GUESTS AND PROVIDE A BETTER VIEW.

THE PARADE WILL BE REPEATED THE NEXT DAY, BUT TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ROUTE.

AS IN PAST YEARS THERE WILL BE NO SCRAMBLE OF BUNS WHICH, ACCORDING TO LEGEND, WILL BRING LUCK TO THE RECIPIENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

INSTEAD, THE BUNS ON THREE 12-METRE-TALL BUN TOWERS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE ON TUESDAY AT 9 AM. THE GOVERNMENT HAS PAID FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWERS.

SPONSORED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD AT A COST OF $20 000, THE WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL WILL END ON THURSDAY (MAY 10). IT IS HELD EVERY YEAR TO PLACATE THE SPIRITS OF PEOPLE KILLED BY PIRATES IN PAST CENTURIES.

DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD, ISLANDERS WILL ABSTAIN FROM EATING FISH AND MEAT AS A TOKEN OF SINCERITY AND SOLEMNITY. THERE WILL ALSO BE NO SLAUGHTERING OF ANIMALS FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS, FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).

OTHER ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE CANTONESE OPERA PERFORMANCES EVERY NIGHT DURING THE PERIOD.

TAOIST PRIESTS WILL CHANT PRAYERS AT THE PAK TAI TEMPLE AT 12 NOON ON SUNDAY (MAY 6) WHILE THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM YAP, WILL OFFICIATE AT A LION AND UNICORN EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY AT THE TEMPLE AT 3 PM ON THE SAME DAY.

THE PESTIVAL