XN000022-1985-04-20 — Page 10

SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1985

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DRAGON BOATS TO RACE AT NEW VENUE

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THE TAI PO DRAGON BOAT RACE WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 22 AT A NEW VENUE THIS YEAR, AT TOLO HARBOUR OUTSIDE THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.

THIS WAS DECIDED AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT DRAGON BOAT COMMITTEE.

FIFTY TEAMS WILL TAKE PART IN THE RACE, EACH WITH 27 MEMBERS COMPRISING A PADDLING CREW OF 24, A DRUMMER, A GONG-BEATER AND A STEERSMAN.

APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM TEAMS TO TAKE PART IN THE RACE. APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICES OF THE TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE, TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED AND DISTRICT OFFICE. THE FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY MAY 13 WITH AN ENTRY FEE OF $500.

VIETNAMESE BOATS CONTINUE JOURNEY

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IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, TWO VIETNAMESE REFUGEE BOATS HAVE DECIDED TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY AFTER ARRIVING IN HONG KONG, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

THE FIRST BOAT, WITH EIGHT REFUGEES, ARRIVED ON APRIL 15. ITS OCCUPANTS CLAIMED TO HAVE LEFT HONG GAI, NORTH VIETNAM ON MARCH 20. THEY ALL OPTED TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY AND THEY WERE GIVEN FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS. MINOR REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THEIR BOAT AND ITS ENGINE. THEY LEFT VOLUNTARILY ON APRIL 18.

THE SECOND BOAT, WITH 106 REFUGEES, ARRIVED ON APRIL 17. ITS OCCUPANTS CLAIMED TO HAVE LEFT NHA TRANG, SOUTH VIETNAM ON APRIL 9. ONE GROUP OF 59 DECIDED TO STAY IN HONG KONG AND, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE WHO WAS SENT TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT ON APRIL 17, ALL WERE TRANSFERRED TO CHI MA WAN CLOSED CENTRE ON APRIL 18. THE REMAINING GROUP OF 47 ELECTED TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY. THEY WERE GIVEN ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS. THEY LEFT VOLUNTARILY ON APRIL 19.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THESE TWO BOATS BROUGHT TO SIX THE NUMBER OF CASES OF VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY IN JULY 1982. NOW BEEN THREE CASES IN 1985.

THERE HAVE

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