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The 2015 Bun Carnival will stage its grand finale, the Bun Scrambling Competition, at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, on the night of May 25 (Monday). A total of 12 finalists will vie for the 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 a well-known traditional festive event in Hong Kong.
Trophies will be awarded to the 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 teams in the Bun Scrambling Invitation Relay. The "Full Pockets of Lucky Buns" award will continue to be presented this year to commend the participant who grabs the most buns.
To make the event more appealing, a Grand Award will be introduced with effect from this year under which any male or female athlete who has won first prize three times in the Bun Scrambling Competition will win the Grand Award and become the "King of kings" or the "Queen of queens" of the competition.
The Bun Scrambling Competition, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will start at midnight. An opening ceremony to launch the competition will be held half an hour earlier. The organisers, together with the Islands District Council, the Islands District Office, the Police and the Transport Department, will implement various measures to maintain public order on that night. Detailed arrangements were announced at a joint press conference today (May 19).
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee, Mr Yung Chi-ming; the Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee, Mr Ho Lai-on; the Chief Leisure Manager (New Territories West) of the LCSD, Ms Dilys Cheung; the Assistant District Officer (Islands), Mr Joe Chow; the Divisional Commander (Cheung Chau) of the Hong Kong Police Force, Ms Ivy Chan; Chief Transport Officer of the Transport Department Mr Kwong Ka-yin; and Member of the Islands District Council Ms Lee Kwai-chun attended the press conference.
Ms Cheung said that four spectator zones will be set up on that night at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, which can accommodate about 1,650 people. Members of the public are requested to queue up at Pak She First Lane, next to Cheung Chau Fire Station, and along Ping Chong Road to get 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. Spectators who have got their tickets should wait for instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers for admission, which is expected to start from 10.30pm. Spectators should enter Zone 1 to Zone 4 in sequence.
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 Pak Tai Temple Playground, where staff will be on hand to address public enquiries.
Ms Chan said police officers would be deployed outside Pak Tai Temple Playground for crowd management. She called on the public to co-operate, follow instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers, and be patient in crowded places.
On the arrangements for public transport services, Mr Kwong said the Transport Department would closely monitor the situation on the night and would stay in close contact with ferry and bus companies to make necessary and appropriate arrangements to meet public demand.
He added that as many people would be leaving Cheung Chau after the event, New World First Ferry would arrange an additional ferry trip from Cheung Chau to Central at 1.15am on May 26.
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 on May 26. Overnight bus services departing from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Central will be re-routed to pass Central Pier 5 from midnight to about 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 Chow said St John Hospital would make appropriate manpower arrangements on the day for provision of accident and emergency services, while the Hong Kong East Cluster of the Hospital Authority will render assistance when necessary. The Government Flying Service will also deploy helicopters and strengthen its manpower.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the LCSD, the 2015 Bun Carnival is presented with the support of the Cheung Chau Wai Chiu County Association Limited, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Islands District Office and the China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union.
For enquiries on the above activities, 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/Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:57
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