1.
LS (PAN) CROWD AT STADIUM
6 ft

2.
MS DEPUTY PREMIER NGUYEN
7 ft

3.
MS MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC CORPS
8 ft

4.
MS DELEGATES FROM 42 PROVINCES
11 ft

5.
CU DEPUTY PREMIER DELIVERING SPEECH
13 ft

6.
MS DELEGATES
15 ft

7.
MS DEPUTY PREMIER LIGHTS TORCH
21 1/2 ft

8.
MS HE AND OTHER HOLDING TORCHES
23 ft

9.
MS DELEGATES
25 ft

10.
CU DEPUTY PREMIER MIXING SAMPLES OF EARTH
28 ft

11.
LS DELEGATES ON FIELD
34 ft

12.
MS DEPUTY PREMIER AND DIGNITARIES LEAVING STADIUM
35 1/2 ft

13.
MS DELEGATES LEAVING STADIUM
38 ft



Initials CAR/S/MK/YA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS. WERE PRESENT FOR THE SOLEMN CELEBRATION MARKING HUNG VUONG DAY (TORCHLIGHT CEREMONY) WHICH WAS HELD AT SAIGON'S CONG HOA STADIUM ON APRIL 21.

THE CEREMONY WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE KINDLING OF THE SACRED FLAME AND THE MIXING OF EARTH FROM THE COUNTRY'S 42 PROVINCES-SYMBOLISING UNITY.

DOCTOR NGUYEN TON HOAN, DEPUTY PREMIER FOR PARTICIPATION, WHO PRESIDED OVER THE CEREMONY, READ A SPEECH FROM THE PRIME MINISTER, MAJOR-GENERAL NGUYEN KHANH.

DELEGATES FROM THE 42 PROVINCES WERE ASSEMBLED ON THE FIELD FACING THE SACRED FLAME WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN A LARGE URN AT THE FOOT OF AN ALTAR ERECTED ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

THE URN WHICH SYMBOLISES THE HONG BANG DYNASTY, WAS FLANKED BY EIGHTEEN SMALLER ONES TO REPRESENT ITS 18 KINGS, OF WHICH HUNG VUONG WAS THE FIRST.

AFTER KINDLING HIS TORCH FROM THE SACRED FLAME, DOCTOR NGUYEN TON HOAN PERFORMED THE RITE OF MIXING SAMPLES OF EARTH BROUGHT BY THE DELEGATES.