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A total of 40 teams joined the last-day races of the 18th Yokohama Dragon Boat Race at Yamashita Park, Yokohama, Japan, today (June 5), competing for a number of prizes and bringing excitement to spectators on the promenade amid the roar of drums, gongs and cheering.
Sixteen of the 40 teams joined the race sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. After a fierce contest, the championship went to Umizaru Higumi, which was awarded the Hong Kong Cup.
Apart from enjoying the races, park visitors were also attracted by the booth and display panels set up by the Economic and Trade Office, which promoted Hong Kong's advantages under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.
Quizzes about Hong Kong were conducted and promotional leaflets were distributed to let visitors know more about the latest developments in Hong Kong, Asia's world city.
The Yokohama Dragon Boat Race, held since 1994, has developed into an annual tourist attraction in Yokohama and is one of the largest of its kind in Japan. This year, a total of 162 teams joined races held over two consecutive weekends.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) aims to promote cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan as well as enhance Japanese people's understanding of Hong Kong through participating in the event.
Ends/Sunday, June 5, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:27
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