Hopoh association to mark national-level Lei Cha festival with various events
KUCHING: Sarawak Hopoh Association will be organising a national-level Hopoh Lei Cha festival celebration with a series of events taking place starting from April 26.
The highlight of the festival is a two-day Chinese song singing competition, with preliminary rounds taking place at SJK Chung Hua No. 2 here on April 26, followed by the finals at Imperial Hotel on April 27.
Association president Datu Dr Chai Khin Chung said Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has been invited to officiate the finals and prize-giving ceremony on April 27.
“We are anticipating about 1,000 delegates coming to support this festival, especially on April 27 for the gala dinner whereby Sarawak Premier Abang Johari has been invited,” he told a press conference held at the association’s centre here yesterday.
Chai said about 40 per cent of the delegates are from outside of Sarawak, namely from Peninsula Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and China.
The festival celebration will be officially launched at SJK Chung
Hua No. 3 on April 27 and various dishes synonymous with the Hopoh clan will be showcased and served during the festival.
The ticket to take part in the food extravaganza is priced at RM30. The national-level Hopoh Lei Cha festival celebration is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, with Chai expressing belief that this would translate into tourism revenue for the state.
During the gala dinner on April 27, he said there will also be Chinese cultural performances as well as a cheongsam fashion show participated by various ethnic groups.
The delegates from various countries are expected to arrive in the city on April 25 and the organising committee has cooperated with tour operators to offer different packages to visit tourism destinations around the city, followed by a welcoming dinner on April 26.
In conjunction with the Hopoh Lei Cha festival celebration, a golf competition will be held on April 26 at Kuching Golf Club, while a Hopoh association branch office will be opened in Sri Aman on April 28.