XN000022-1985-12-05 — Page 23

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1985

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NT ENTRIES TO SPEECH FESTIVAL UP 150 TIMES

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THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES FROM NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS TO THE ANNUAL HONG KONG SCHOOLS SPEECH FESTIVAL HAS INCREASED BY OVER 150 TIMES IN THE PAST 22 YEARS.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES MR TONY HAMMOND, TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN HE PRESENTED PRIZES TO NEW TERRITORIES WINNERS OF THE 37TH ANNUAL EVENT.

HE SAID THAT WHEN THE FESTIVAL WAS FIRST HELD IN 1963, THERE WERE ONLY 29 ENTRIES. TODAY, 22 YEARS LATER, THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES HAS SOARED TO 4 400.

MR HAMMOND CONGRATULATED THE ORGANISERS OF THE FESTIVAL AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS MUSIC AND SPEECH ASSOCIATION ON THE HARD WORK DONE IN MAKING THE EVENT 30 POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL.

HE SAID THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCASION ON WHICH THE NEWLY- FORMED REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST IN MAKING VENUES AVAILABLE SUCH AS THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL, THE LUT SAU HALL AT YUEN LONG, AND THE NEWLY-OPENED CIVIC CENTRE AT TAI PO.

BY THE TIME NEXT YEAR'S SPEECH FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE,

MR HAMMOND ADDED, TWO MORE CIVIC CENTRES WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETEJ AT SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN.

SHA TIN TA CHIU CEREMONY

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THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES WILL OFFICIATE AT A TA CHIU CEREMONY IN SHA TIN TOMORROW (FRIDAY) MORNING.

TA CHIU, A TAOIST FESTIVAL OF PEACE AND RENEWAL OF FAITH, WAS LAST HELD IN SHA TIN IN 1975.

DURING TOMORROW'S CEREMONY, DR HAYES, TOGETHER WITH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR W.K. LAM, AND MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE WILL MAKE OFFERINGS AND JOIN IN A VEGETARIAN LUNCH WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

IS

THE SHA TIN TA CHIU CELEBRATIONS, HELD EVERY 10 YEARS, ORGANISED BY THE RURAL COMMITTEE AT A COST OF MORE THAN $1 MILLION.

THE CELEBRACENS