HEBE JEBES
NOV/DEC 2021
u
HEBE COMMUNITY
GWEILLOS IN THE HOUSE at the Sai Kung District National Day Reception in celebration of the 72nd Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China By Paul Arkwright
Gweillo 賀國慶 參與西貢區慶祝中華人民共和國成立七十二周年酒會有感 As I gingerly stepped into the Sai Kung Jockey Club Town Hall on 29 September, to attend HHYC’s formal invitation to celebrate the 72nd birthday of the People’s Republic of China, the traditional dragon dance had just begun to welcome everyone to the event. It was unlike previous District Council events I had been to, in that everyone was standing and masked rather than seated and chatting around tables. Out in force, the ushers held up signs to remind everyone to keep wearing their masks throughout the event. I mopped the sweat from my brow and purposefully settled in a spot directly below a big air-con vent to help cool me down as I had just rushed over sporting my HHYC blazer—not such a clever idea when it was 32 degrees in the shade.
在9 月 29 日，當我小心翼 翼地踏入西貢賽馬會大會 堂，代表白沙灣遊艇會慶祝 中華人民共和國 72 歲周年 酒會，會堂內已開始舞龍舞 獅的表演。這與我在疫情前 參加過的區議會活動不同， 因疫情關係，每個人都戴著 口罩站著，不能坐下聊天。 在現場，工作人員舉牌提醒 大家在活動期間必須佩戴口 罩。從另一處趕來現場的 我滿頭大汗，趕緊找一個冷 氣較大的地方坐下，因為當 天酷日高照，氣溫高達32 度，我還身著本會的西裝外
The cymbals and drums of the dragon dance were followed by a performance from a local school choir, which, from the bits I could understand, featured song about all the different villages and communities that make up Sai Kung. Then came the serious bit, delegates and dignitaries were asked to face the screen (including those standing on the stage) so we could look at the Chinese flag as a mark of respect as the national anthem was played a full volume. There followed a couple of pleasantly short speeches welcoming everyone for coming and a few other bits I did not quite catch—as by then, I was at the limit of my Cantonese skills.
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套趕去活動現場。 在舞龍舞獅過後，便是本區 學校的合唱團的演出，他們 表演的歌曲內容圍繞關於 西貢不同村莊和社區。演出 結束後便是儀式，所有人包 括地區代表和區議會議員 面向台上的國旗（包括那些 站在舞台上的人），然後奏 國歌。儀式之後，便是地區 代表和區議會的歡迎致辭， 當中有些內容因粵語水平有 限，未能完全理解。
