XN000022-1986-04-10 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1986

PRINCESS ATTENDS COMMISSIONING OF LAUNCHES

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THREE OF HONG KONG'S MOST MODERN MARINE POLICE LAUNCHES WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) COMMISSIONED IN A TRADITIONAL SEAFARING CEREMONY IN THE PRESENCE OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS ALEXANDRA.

THE LAUNCHES ARE THE LAST OF 27 NEW DAMEN PATROL CRAFT TO BE DELIVERED TO THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE.

THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN SIGHT OF THE TIN HAU TEMPLE IN JOSS HOUSE BAY, TO WHICH THE PRINCESS TRAVELLED IN THE SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR'S LAUNCH, THE LADY MAURINE. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR RAYMON ANNING; THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MANAGEMENT, MR ERIC BLACKBURN THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, OPERATIONS, MR LI KWAN-HA; THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR PETER CHAN, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHUNG WAH SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, MR WONG WAH-SANG.

THE OFFICIAL PARTY WAS MET AT JOSS HOUSE BAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL BRANCH, MR JAMES MORRIN- THE POLICE ADMINISTRATION OFFICER, DR RICHARD BUTLER, AND THE MARINE REGIONAL COMMANDER, MR JOHN MACDONALD.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH TRADITION, HOMAGE WAS PAID TO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN (TIN HAU) WITH JOSS STICKS, BOWS AND THE OFFERING OF ROAST PORK AND CHICKEN ON BOARD THE NEW LAUNCHES.

ADDRESSING THE ROYAL VISITOR, MR MACDONALD SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE CEREMONY COMPLETED THE MARINE PATROL LAUNCH BUILDING PROGRAMME NEW WATER-JET BOATS, COMMAND LAUNCHES AND HARBOUR PATROL CRAFT WERE BEING BUILT OR PLANNED, AND WHEN AVAILABLE, THESE WOULD ENABLE THE FORCE TO MEET THE INCREASING MARINE COMMITMENTS MADE ON IT.

MR MACDONALD THEN PRESENTED TO PRINCESS ALEXANDRA THE DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, SOUTH, MR KONG SHING-SHUN THE ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, OPERATIONS, MR LAURENCE KNOX, AND THE COMMANDERS OF THE THREE NEW LAUNCHES, MR LEUNG WAI-SHING, MR SIU KIT-HUNG AND MR SIU KOON-YIU..

COMMISSIONING PLAQUES WERE PRESENTED BY THE PRINCESS TO

THE LAUNCH COMMANDERS.

FOLLOWING THIS, THE PATROL CRAFT CAST OFF AND SALUTED THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY, BY COMPLETING A FIGURE- OF-EIGHT THREE TIMES IN THE WATERS OF THE BAY.

THE NEW LAUNCHES, BUILT AT A COST OF $8.8 MILLION EACH, ARE NAMED KING YAN (POLICE BENEVOLENCE), KING YUNG (POLICE VALOUR) AND KING KAN (POLICE DILIGENCE).

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA LATER WATCHED A DISPLAY AND STEAM-PAST EY POLICE LAUNCHES, DURING WHICH A BUGLER SOUNDED THE ROYAL SALUTE.

/A BOUQUET