Pro-Taiwan groups plan double-tenth celebrations

Pro-Taiwan groups and Taiwanese representatives in Hong Kong are holding a ceremony, cocktail reception and variety show to mark Sunday's 'double tenth' anniversary of the 1911 revolution.

The reception at the Conrad International Hotel in Admiralty tomorrow will be attended by Taiwan's top representative in Hong Kong, Lu Ping, who is director of the Kwang Hwa Information and Culture Centre, and executives of the Chung Hwa Travel Service - the de facto Taiwanese consulate in Hong Kong. A committee comprising representatives of pro-Taiwan groups is hosting the event.

Pao Cheng-kang, who replaced Chang Liang-jen as managing director of the Chung Hwa Travel Service in May, will not be joining them. He is still waiting for a work visa.

Ms Lu expected some consuls-general based in Hong Kong would attend. 'However, we don't know the details because the invitations were not issued by us,' she said.

A variety show will be held at the Continental Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday.

Mak Ip-shing, chairman of the Highwise Yuen Long Service Centre, a pro-Taiwan group, said nearly 500 people were expected to take part in a private ceremony on Saturday morning at the Red House in Castle Peak, Tuen Mun, formerly the revolutionary base of Sun Yat-sen. Yuen Long district councillor Mr Mak said Taiwanese flags would be hoisted during the ceremony, as had been done before.