XN000022-1986-10-16 — Page 22

PRESS

RELEASE

Royal Visit

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1986

AN EXPLOSION OF COLOUR FOR THE QUEEN

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HONG KONG'S SKIES WILL EXPLODE INTO COLOUR ON OCTOBER 22 WHEN THE BIGGEST FIREWORK DISPLAY THE TERRITORY HAS SEEN IS STAGED IN HONOUR OF THE QUEEN'S VISIT.

IT WILL NOT ONLY BE THE BIGGEST, BUT ALSO THE MOST INTERNATIONAL DISPLAY WITH MORE THAN 6 800 PYROTECHNIC PIECES FROM JAPAN, BRITAIN, CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES BEING IGNITED FOR THE 25-MINUTE SPECTACULAR.

THE DISPLAY WILL COST $1.6 MILLION.

IT IS BEING ORCHESTRATED BY MR SANDY OGAWA, OF THE JAPAN FIREWORKS ARTISTS ASSOCIATION, WHO WILL BE ASSISTED BY 19 JAPANESE TECHNICIANS.

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THEIR ARRIVAL BY AIR FROM JAPAN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, WILL GIVE SOME INDICATION OF THE COLOUR THEY ARE ABOUT TO BRING INTO HONG KONG LIFE. ALL THE TECHNICIANS WILL BE WEARING COLOURFUL JACKETS EMBLAZONED WITH THE NAME OF THEIR ASSOCIATION IN CHINESE CHARACTERS.

THE FIREWORKS WILL BE LAUNCHED FROM THREE BARGES MOORED IN THE HARBOUR. THE DISPLAY WILL BE CONTROLLED BY MR OGAWA FROM A MASTER CO-ORDINATION CENTRE ON THE TOP OF THE SUN HUNG KAI BUILDING IN WAN CHAI.

THE DISPLAY WILL START AT 8 PM AND WILL BE WATCHED BY THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP AND ABOUT 40 GUESTS WHO WILL BE ON BOARD HER MAJESTY'S YACHT BRITANNIA FOR DINNER WHICH WILL FOLLOW THE DISPLAY.

AFTER DINNER THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WILL HOLD A RECEPTION FOR SOME 200 GUESTS.

JUST BEFORE 11 PM THE ROYAL VISITORS AND THEIR GUESTS WILL WATCH THE BAND OF THE ROYAL MARINES BEATING RETREAT ON THE JETTY AT HMS TAMAR.

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