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The annual Bun Carnival is coming soon. The Bun Scrambling Competition, which is the finale of the thrilling event, will be held at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground on Cheung Chau on the night of May 25. Physically fit people aged 18 or above are welcome to take part in the event by submitting applications from next Monday (March 2) to April 2.
The Bun Scrambling Competition comprises three stages: training on bun-tower climbing, selection of finalists and the final competition.
The China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union will hold safety training sessions on bun tower climbing and prevention of falls for selected applicants on May 3. All selected applicants must attend the training sessions before entering the finalist selection exercise in the afternoon of May 10.
A total of 12 finalists, comprising nine male and three female participants, will be shortlisted in the selection exercise. While they will compete in the same race during the Bun Scrambling Competition, results will be ranked separately. The competition will be held from 11.30pm on May 25 to 12.25am on May 26. Competitors will have to scramble for buns, which carry different scores at different points, on the bun tower within a time limit. The one with the highest total score will be the winner. Moreover, the participant who bags the most buns within the specified time and area will be the prize winner of "Full Pockets of Lucky Buns".
As in last year's event, Cheung Chau local organisations and athletes from Hong Kong's neighbouring regions are invited to take part in the Bun Scrambling Invitation Relay, which will be held immediately after the individual competition. The three-member teams will compete in the relay and team members will climb the bun tower in sequence to grab designated buns. The team that completes the task in the shortest time will win.
Prospectuses and enrolment forms for the Bun Scrambling Competition will be available from March 2 at the 18 District Leisure Services Offices of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and at sports centres in Islands District, and from the supporting parties. They can also be obtained from the LCSD website at 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 April 2. Applicants may also fax the forms to 2854 3949.
The maximum number of entrants for the finalist selection is 200. If the applications received exceed the quota, places will be allocated by ballot. Applicants who live, work or study on Cheung Chau will have priority in the ballot.
Bun scrambling, one of the highlights of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, is a well-known traditional festive activity in Hong Kong and has been well received by local people and visitors.
Besides the Bun Scrambling Competition, the 2015 Bun Carnival will also feature a wide array of activities, including the Climbing Carnival and the Student Colouring and Drawing Competitions.
The colouring competition is for Islands District kindergarten students while the drawing competition is for the district's primary students. Both competitions aim to promote the tradition of bun scrambling and local customs among youngsters.
At the Climbing Carnival to be held on May 17, there will be game stalls, handicrafts and variety shows. A Wishing Bun Tower will be set up and winning works of the Student Colouring and Drawing Competitions will be displayed. The China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union will give bun tower climbing demonstrations while festival-goers will have a chance to climb the bun tower. In addition, local tertiary institutions, government departments and commercial and industrial organisations are invited to take part in the relay competition.
The 2015 Bun Carnival is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the LCSD. For enquiries, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD on 2852 3220, or visit the LCSD website.
Ends/Friday, February 27, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:05
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