XN000022-1989-11-08 — Page 66

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989

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GLITTERING ROYAL OPENING FOR CULTURAL CENTRE

* *

HAS

IT WAS A GLITTERING ROYAL GALA NIGHT SUCH AS HONG KONG RARELY SEEN WHEN THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) OFFICIALLY OPENED THE HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE IN KOWLOON.

THE CENTRE, WITH ITS 2,100 SEAT CONCERT HALL AND 8000-PIPE, 93-STOP AUSTRIAN ORGAN HAS BEEN DESIGNED AS A FOCAL POINT FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE TERRITORY.

THE BUILDING, COMMANDING A CENTRAL WATERFRONT POSITION IN TSIM SHA TSUI, HAS A STRIKING DESIGN AND UP-TO-DATE FACILITIES AND IS DESTINED TO BECOME A FAMOUS LANDMARK AS WELL AS A VENUE FOR INTERNATIONAL PERFORMERS.

AMONG THE FIRST CLASS FACILITIES IT OFFERS FOR CONCERTS, CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS ARE A CONCERT HALL. GRAND THEATRE, STUDIO THEATRE, EXHIBITION AREAS, RESTAURANTS AND BARS AS WELL AS NUMEROUS ANCILLARY ROOMS.

USING THE LATEST STRUCTURAL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY THE CENTRE CAN CATER TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LARGEST ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS, THEATRE, OPERA AND DANCE PRODUCTIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THE IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN PERFORMERS AND AUDIENCE.

ATTENDING THE LAST FUNCTION OF THE DAY, THE PRINCESS OF WALES WORE A CREAM STRAPLESS BEADED AND SEQUINNED SLIM FITTING LONG EVENING DRESS WITH A MATCHING SHORT SLEEVE BOLERO WITH HIGH STAND-UP COLLAR AND CREAM SATIN SHOES, DESIGNED BY CATHERINE WALKER OF CHELSEA DESIGN. SHE ALSO WORE A DIAMOND AND PEARL DROP TIARA.

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES ARRIVED AT THE CULTURAL CENTRE BY FROM HMS TAMAR AND WERE RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LADY WILSON PRESENTED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR. H.M.G. FORSGATE MRS FORSGATE.

CAR

WHO

AND

MR. FORSGATE THEN PRESENTED THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL. MR. STEPHEN LAU AND MRS LAU: THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL'S CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE. MR. LO KING-MAN AND MRS LO; THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES,

MR. JAMES SO AND MRS. SO AND THE DIRECTOR OF

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, MR JOSE LEI AND MRS LEI.

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES WERE ESCORTED TO THE CONCERT HALL WHERE THEY HEARD A PERFORMANCE BY THE LONDON BACH CHOIR ACCOMPANIED BY THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.

DURING A 20-MINUTE INTERVAL. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES

IN THE PERFORMANCE.

MET A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED

AFTER THE CONCERT THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES SIGNED THE VISITORS' BOOK AND WERE ESCORTED TO THE FOYER WHERE THEY SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE 400 ASSEMBLED PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CULTURAL CENTRE PROJECT OR WHO HAD TAKEN PART IN THE PERFORMANCE.

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