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The giant lantern featuring a 277.2-metre long traditional Chinese dragon, which served as the centrepiece of the official New Millennium celebrations, has been acknowledged by the Guinness World Records as the "largest dragon lantern" ever made.

The Millennium Dragon Lantern was presented on December 31, 1999 as part of the celebrations jointly organised and funded by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club at the Happy Valley Racecourse.

A certificate from the Guinness World Records to commemorate this fact has been received.

Commissioned by the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the lantern took 200 skilled craftsmen in Fo Shan, Guangdong nine months to design, manufacture and assemble in the Happy Valley Recreation Ground where it has been on public view since last December.

The lantern's vital statistics were measured by a local survey consultant and verified by two independent witnesses - the Convenor of the Executive Council, the Hon. Leung Chun Ying, and the Chairlady of the Wan Chai District Council, Mrs Peggy Lam.

The authenticated measurements were forwarded by HAD, as were the statements of authentication by the witnesses themselves, to the Guinness World Records in London for consideration in March.

The dragon lantern's body measured 4.4 metres in height, 2.51 metres in width along its body, 13.9 metres tall from top of the head to the ground and weighed over 25 tonnes. Reinforced by a steel inner frame, its body is covered with silk fabric sewn with 20,000 silver panels.

It is lit up from inside by 11,400 light bulbs while 22 cooling fans prevent it from overheating from the interior. Around the lantern are 33 pieces of shimmering clouds, illuminated by colourful flourescent tubes.

Panels of the body will be given to Po Leung Kuk for fund raising purposes, while the dragon head may eventually be sold, with the proceeds going to charitable causes.

End/Tuesday, May 30, 2000

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