XN000022-1993-08-08 — Page 5

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 1993

"EVERY YEAR IN JUNE, OVER 30 TEAMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME

IN THE TO HONG KONG TO TAKE PART

HONG KONG DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL RACES HELD IN VICTORIA HARBOUR, HE SAID.

"

HE SAID HE WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT THIS TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL SPORTING EVENT HAD NOW TAKEN ROOT IN NEW YORK.

IN PARTICIPATING

CHINESE

THE DRAGON

"THIS YEAR, THE NUMBER OF TEAMS BOAT RACES HERE IN YOUR GREAT CITY HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF TEAMS TAKING PART IN 1991.

"THIS YEAR'S EVENT HAS MORE COLOUR AND VARIETY, IN THE FORM AN EXHIBITION AND CULTURAL FAIR HELD AT THE WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER LOWER MANHATTAN, HE ADDED.

11

THESE "I HOPE

OF

IN

OF

YORKERS TO HAVE A HONG KONG.

EVENTS WILL ENABLE NEW COLOURFUL INSIGHT INTO THE MANY FACETED LIFE

THE THE

"I HOPE BY STAGING THESE CULTURAL EVENTS, WE WILL FOSTER A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND CLOSER TIES BETWEEN US, SO AS TO ENHANCE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND ALREADY CLOSE TRADING AND ECONOMIC TIES USA," HE SAID.

**

"TODAY'S RACE MARKS THE OPENING OF THE THIRD HONG KONG DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK, SAID HONG KONG

OFFICE ECONOMIC AND TRADE DIRECTOR MR ALEX FONG AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.

"WHEN THIS FESTIVAL WAS FIRST ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK IN 1991, THE BATTLE ON THE WATER WAS

ON THE

HUDSON RIVER, HE SAID.

זי

FOUGHT

11 BETWEEN

HERE AT THE

TEAMS

to

"I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE MOVED A LONG WAY SINCE THEN, HE ADDED. "THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL WILL BE MADE UP OF NOT ONLY THE HUDSON RIVER

HELD RACES, BUT TODAY'S RACE

MEADOWS

CORONA PARK. A

TEAMS

THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL. TWO CANADIAN TEAMS WILL BE

APPEARANCE

TOTAL OF 24

||

IN THE HUDSON RIVER RACE,

ARE MAKING

FLUSHING

IN COMPETING

THEIR FIRST

A HONG KONG WORLD FINANCIAL

THE HONG KONG DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL ALSO FEATURES EXHIBITION/CULTURAL FAIR AT THE WINTER GARDEN AT THE CENTER FROM AUGUST 12 TO 15 AT 11 AM TO 6 PM.

HONG KONG WILL COME TO LIFE DURING THE FOUR DAYS. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO SAMPLE TRADITIONAL CHINESE DISHES, WATCH CHINESE ARTISANS CREATE

TRADITIONAL

AND SEE ART OBJECTS, WATCH

CHINESE DANCES

KONG PERFORMANCES BY A CHINESE MUSIC ENSEMBLE, BROUGHT OVER FROM HONG

THANKS TO THE HELP OF MR JAMES SO AND THE ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS

AND VIEW DEMONSTRATIONS OF IN HONG KONG

CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS.

KONG.

VISITORS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO SEE

THE

MODERN

FACES OF HONG

15