XN000022-1987-04-30 — Page 16

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THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1987

IN CONNECTION WITH THE FESTIVAL, A TRADITIONAL 'FA PAU ' LOTTERY WAS HELD. THE TEN BEST FA PAU WERE SELECTED AMONG SOME 90 PRESENTED TO CELEBRATE THIS ANNUAL EVENT, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CHINESE FESTIVALS.

THE TIN HAU FESTIVAL HAS BEEN CELEBRATED ON TSING YI SINCE 1946 AND HAS SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR BOAT PEOPLE WHO PRAY TO TIN HAU FOR FAIR WEATHER AND GOOD TIDINGS ALL YEAR ROUND. IT IS THE BIGGEST AND LARGEST RELIGIOUS EVENT FOR TSING YI PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS OF THE FISHING VILLAGES ON THE ISLAND.

THE FIVE-DAY CELEBRATIONS THIS YEAR WHICH STARTED ON TUESDAY INCLUDES A CULTURAL EVENT AND A CHINESE OPERA PERFORMANCE.

THE EVENT HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE TSING YI TIN HAU FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE WITH SOME 1 000 PEOPLE FROM MORE THAN 20 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TAKING PART. AMONG THEM WERE THE TSING YI RURAL COMMITTEE, TSING YI TIN HAU TEMPLE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, LOCAL TRADE AND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS.

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MONG KOK TO HOLD DISTRICT FESTIVAL

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THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD TODAY (THURSDAY) ENDORSED A PROPOSAL TO ORGANISE A DISTRICT FESTIVAL TO ENHANCE RESIDENTS' IDENTIFICATION WITH THE DISTRICT.

THE MAIN THEME OF THE FESTIVAL WILL CENTRE ON + HOME+ AND WILL INCLUDE TOPICS SUCH AS SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS, FAMILY LIFE, IMPROVEMENT ON LIVING CONDITIONS AND HOME SECURITY.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT THE FESTIVAL CAN HELP FOSTER RESIDENTS' SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE DISTRICT AND PROMOTE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROSPERITY, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI, SAID.

+WE ALSO HOPE IT CAN PROMOTE THE IMAGE OF THE BOARD AS WELL AS STRENGTHEN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH AREA COMMITTEES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, HE ADDED.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL INCLUDE A NUMBER OF LARGE-SCALE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TRADE FAIR, SALES DISCOUNT CAMPAIGN, PARADES, ILLUMINATIONS IN MAJOR STREETS, VARIETY SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS ON LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS WHICH WILL BE HELD BETWEEN DECEMBER AND EARLY JANUARY NEXT YEAR.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A SERIES OF PRE-ACTIVITIES STARTING IN JUNE TO BUILD UP A FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE LEADING TO THE MAIN EVENTS.

/A MONG