**********************************************************
The 2012 Bun Carnival will stage its grand finale, the exciting Bun Scrambling Competition, at the soccer pitch, Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, on the evening of April 28 (Saturday). A total of 12 finalists will compete against each other for championships in the men's and women's teams.
The Bun Scrambling Competition is one of the highlights of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival and also a well-known traditional festive event in Hong Kong. To celebrate the successful inscription of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival onto the Third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011, this year's champion, first runner-up and second runner-up in the men's team event, the champion in the women's team event and the winning team in the Bun Scrambling Invitation Relay, to be held immediately after the individual competition, will be awarded trophies named in honour of the inscription.
An opening ceremony will begin at 11.30pm next Saturday while the Bun Scrambling Competition will kick off at midnight. Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), this festive event is expected to attract a large number of locals and visitors to Cheung Chau as in previous years. The organisers, together with the Islands District Council, Islands District Office, Police and Transport Department, will implement various measures to facilitate public participation in an orderly manner. Detailed arrangements were announced at a joint press conference today (April 18).
The press conference was hosted by the Chairman of the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee, Mr Yung Chi-ming; Chief Leisure Manager (New Territories West) of the LCSD, Miss Sylvia Tang; member of the Islands District Council, Ms Lee Kwai-chun; Assistant District Officer (Islands), Mr Timothy Tam; Divisional Commander (Cheung Chau) of the Hong Kong Police Force, Ms Vicky Wong; and Senior Transport Officer of the Transport Department, Ms Anna Yeung.
Miss Tang said the soccer pitch at Pak Tai Temple Playground would be divided into five zones on that day, with one designated for invited guests and the other four for the public. The four public zones can accommodate about 1,650 spectators, not including the invited guests.
"Those who are interested in watching the competition at the soccer pitch are requested to queue up at Pak She First Lane, next to Cheung Chau Fire Station, and along Ping Chong Road for getting admission tickets. The distribution of tickets will start from 10pm. Each person can obtain one ticket on a first-come, first-served basis while tickets last," Miss Tang said.
"Spectators who have got their tickets should keep on queuing up to wait for instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers. Admission is expected to start from 10.30pm and spectators should enter Zone 1 to Zone 4 in sequence," she added.
Notices will be put up at Central Pier 5 informing the public of the schedule and arrangements of the event. Notices and enquiry counters will also be set up at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier and the entrance of the Pak Tai Temple Playground, where staff will be on hand to address public enquiries.
Ms Wong said sufficient police manpower would be deployed for crowd management. She called on the public to co-operate and follow instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers. She reminded them to be patient in crowded places.
Ms Yeung said the Transport Department would closely monitor public demand for transport services and would keep in close contact with ferry and bus companies to make necessary and appropriate arrangements.
She added that with many people leaving Cheung Chau after the event, the New World First Ferry would arrange an additional ferry trip from Cheung Chau to Central at 1.15am next Sunday (April 29).
The bus companies will operate a special cross-harbour bus route 104R, running from Central Pier 5 to Mong Kok from about 1.10am to 2.30am next Sunday. Overnight bus services departing from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Central, will be re-routed to operate via Central Pier 5 from midnight to 2.30am for passengers' convenience. These routes are N8X (to Siu Sai Wan), N90 (to South Horizons), N182 (to Kwong Yuen, Sha Tin) and N619 (to Shun Lee, Kwun Tong).
Speaking on rescue operations during any possible emergencies, Mr Tam said St John Hospital would make appropriate manpower arrangements on that day for the handling of rescue work. The Government Flying Service will also provide helicopters and strengthen their manpower.
To provide more opportunities for the public to participate in this festive event and enjoy the fun of bun tower climbing, the organisers will hold the Climbing Carnival at the soccer pitch, Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, from noon to 6pm on April 22 (Sunday). There will be a splendid array of activities including climbing games as well as exhibition booths and game stalls showcasing the theme of the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Activities ranging from handicrafts and lion dances to variety shows will also be organised. Other highlights on the day will include a Wishing Bun Tower erected at the soccer pitch as well as displays of winning works of the student colouring and drawing competitions.
For enquiries on the activities of the 2012 Bun Carnival, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD on 2852 3220, or visit the department's website at www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:18
NNNN
