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Applications for this year・s Bun Scrambling Competition in Cheung Chau will open next Monday (March 16).
Since its re-commissioning in 2005, the annual Bun Scrambling Competition of the Bun Carnival has been well received and become one of the most representative traditional festive events in Hong Kong.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the ：2009 Bun Carnival； will be staged at the Pak Tai Temple Playground soccer pitch, Cheung Chau, from April 18 to May 3.
The carnival is presented in association with the Cheung Chau Wai Chiu County Association Limited, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Islands District Office of the Home Affairs Department and the Hong Kong Mountaineering Union, and sponsored by the Islands District Council and LUKFOOK JEWELLERY.
As the carnival finale, the Bun Scrambling Competition comprises three stages - training on bun tower climbing, selection of finalists and the final competition.
Healthy and physically fit people aged 18 or above are welcome to join the competition. If more than 150 applications are received, places will be allocated by ballot. Applicants who live, work or study on Cheung Chau will have priority in the ballot.
The Hong Kong Mountaineering Union will provide training on bun tower climbing and prevention of falling with sessions on April 18, 19 and in the morning of April 25. All the selected applicants must attend one of the training sessions before participating in the selection of finalists in the afternoon of April 25.
A total of 12 shortlisted finalists (including at least two female participants) will enter the final competition at 11.30pm on May 2 and end at about 12.25am on May 3. Competitors have to scramble for the buns on the bun tower within a time limit. The one with the highest total score is the winner.
Similar to last year・s event, Cheung Chau local organisations and athletes from neighbouring places are invited to take part in the Bun Scrambling Invitation Relay. Eight three-member teams will compete in the relay and each member will climb the bun tower in sequence to grab the designated buns. The team which completes the task in the shortest time is the winner.
Prospectuses and enrolment forms for the Bun Scrambling Competition will be available for collection from Monday (March 16) at the 18 District Leisure Services Offices, sports centres in the Islands District, and from co-organiser and assisting organisers. They can also be downloaded from the LCSD website http://www.lcsd.gov.hk .
Completed enrolment forms should be returned by hand or by post to the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD at Room 622, 6/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong on or before March 26. The forms can also be faxed to 2854 3949.
There will be a Climbing Carnival on April 26. Activities such as games stalls featuring the themes of bun festival, climbing sport and East Asian Games, handicraft demonstrations and variety shows will be staged. A Wishing Bun Tower will be set up as the new feature of this year・s carnival. The Hong Kong Mountaineering Union will give climbing demonstrations and festival-goers will have the chance to climb the bun tower. Participants can join a Climbing Play-in by making on-site applications. The play-in is divided into three groups - the Masters Group (aged 35 or above), Adult Group (aged 18 to 34) and Youth Group (aged below 18 and at least one metre tall). Public utilities companies serving Islands District will be invited to join an invitation relay this year. The prize presentation for winners of the newly staged ：Bun Scrambling Colouring Contest； for kindergartens in Islands District will be conducted during the carnival.
For enquiries, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office on 2852 3220, or visit the LCSD website on http://www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, March 13, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:21
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