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.