TNAG-0412-FCO40-458-First-Arts-Festival-of-Hong-Kong--26-February---26-March-197-1973 — Page 11

(31) in GR 7/1486/73 Yr. ref: DP 42/2

REVED W

PCITY No.51

26 SEP 1973

Dar Par HKK.18/1

Dillio

Miss Kelly каз

to see

o.f.

pl

20%2

Entor

Colonial Secretariat

Lower Albert Road,

HONG KONG,

19th September, 1973.

Ongiral cent to Defence Weft:

Hong Kong Festival 1973

LAST

REF.

(20)

Thanks for your letter of the 17th August.

N

REF.

리

First, as to the Festival itself: one has been held every two years, the first in 1969. The general idea is to foster a sense of identity and community and show the Hong Kong public, in a colourful and entertaining manner, something of the nature and activities of the larger voluntary and other organisations which abound here. The Festival also has value as a tourist attraction. You will find

a report on the 1971 Festival, with illustrations, in the Hong Kong Annual Report for 1971, which I am sure you have a copy of in the Department. Printed publicity for the coming Festival will be issued shortly and I will send you copies to give you the flavour of the whole thing: I think you should know about it since it is an important event here.

The 1969 Festival included a Military Tattoo but logistic problems made this impossible in 1971. However, this year the Forces are able to take part again and we are delighted to have them. Arrangements for their participation have been developing for months and there is close cooperation between them and the Festival organisers.

I am afraid that some slightly false impressions must have got around in London about the progress being made with these arrangements: the copy letters you enclosed suggest some apprehension. Inevitably the financial discussions moved slowly to start with because it takes time to investigate, invite, include and confirm military participation from the United Kingdom. But these matters are being resolved a budget for the Tattoo has long been in existence and admission charges are being fixed to cover all expenses. There are no grounds for thinking that everything will not be cleared up and "all right on the night". Any functions of this kind, ranging from a church fete to Expo, have to grapple with organisational and financial difficulties. As it happened in 1969 there was quite a handsome profit on the Tattoo amounting to $86, 000 even though the aim then, as on this occasion, was to break even. Half the profits went to Service charities and if things go well this could happen again.

I do not think that you or MOD need get too fussed over this, nor should we want you to. But let me know if anyone is still uneasy.

You

Aran Masan (A. K. Mason)

Miss P. M. Kelly,

Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.,

London.

(wc

mit Cura de la Maret

in Sipere)