Grand parade in North District to celebrate PRC 60th anniversary (with photos)
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     A grand parade will be staged in Sheung Shui by the North District Office and North District Council on Sunday (October 4) in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the grand opening of the Reunification Garden. Members of the public are welcome to join and share the joyful celebration of the occasion.

     The newly-completed Reunification Garden is located near the Lung Sum Avenue Sports Centre on Jockey Club Road, Sheung Shui. The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, District Officer (North), Mr Donald Chen, and North DC chairman, Mr So Sai-chi will officiate at the opening ceremony of the Reunification Garden and launch ceremony for the grand parade at 11am.

     Constructed by the North District Council and with funding from the District Minor Works (DMW) programme, the newly-completed Reunification Garden was built to commemorate the historic moment on July 1, 1997, when the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison went past Jockey Club Road on its arrival in Hong Kong. Commemorative items including a plaque given to the garrison, sculptures of soldiers and photos showing the celebration events in the New Territories in 1997 are displayed in the garden.

     The grand parade will start after the opening ceremony of the Reunification Garden. Parade teams will set off at the North District Sports Ground and tour along Fung Nam Road, Jockey Club Road, Lung Sum Avenue and Chi Cheong Road. Performances will be put up near the Reunification Garden and Chi Cheong Road for the public.

     The parade will feature performances by more than 2,000 people from around 30 district organisations to show the rich variety of chinese culture. These include traditional wedding ceremony that used to be held by the boat community in Sha Tau Kok and dragon and lion dances.

     The programme also includes a Tang dynasty costume show, dancing and gymnastics performances by youth groups, marching bands and Tai Chi performance by the elderly.

Ends/Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:40

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