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The bun-snatching contest / bun snatching tradition on the
suburban island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong was canceled after the bamboo
constructed bun tower collapsed in 1978 injuring 100 people . A similar
tower constructed out of bamboo collapsed in 1978, , but the Government allowed
the tradition to be resurrected this year in a bid to lure visitors to Hong
Kong's colorful islands. A DOZEN people were elected by initial preliminary elimination in Hong Kong scrambled up a steel tower covered in buns today, reviving a religious ritual banned 26 years ago when the former British colonial Government declared it too dangerous. The festival originated hundreds of years ago when Cheung
Chau residents dressed up as gods to ward
The 14-metre tower was covered with more than 1,000 buns for today's contest. The 12 climbers were given three minutes to collect as many as they could, with buns at the top earning more points than those lower down. This year ,officials revived the tradition, part of an annual "bun festival," this year after implementing improved safety measures. Workers built a sturdier tower and bun snatchers received mountaineering training. A preliminary competition reduced the pool of climbers to 12 finalists At the stroke of midnight, the 10 men and two women - most of them rock climbing enthusiasts - clambered up the tower, stuffing as many buns as they could into their backpacks this year Secured by safety ropes, the contestants tossed plastic-wrapped buns into bags on their backs as hundreds of spectators watched from below. The climbing sent some buns flying from the tower. The buns stuffed with lotus seed paste were divided into three zones, with the higher buns worth more points. The competitor racking up the most points in three minutes was the winner. More than 40,000 people flocked to the island to catch the action this year. Local people seemed happy to see the event back, and the government has said it could become a tourist attraction 重現清醮盛景 。 
今年太平清醮的焦點是搶包山比賽，12名參賽的健兒，包括兩名女將，均施展渾身解數，包括兩名女將，均施展渾身解數，冠軍由郭嘉明以705分，
共得97個包 奪得，亞軍 黎志伟得 681分，季軍林增 信 在搶包山的過程中，各人步履如飛，將搶得的平安包盡快放入布袋中，由於參賽健兒訓練有素，他們在垂直的包山上如履平地，令在場的中外遊客大開眼界，紛紛報以喝采聲。 飄色巡遊於下午2時多開始，飄色所到之處皆萬人空巷，部分人更預先在路旁放下椅子「霸位」，以佔據有利位置。遊人紛紛向飄色「指手劃腳」，猜測飄色所扮演的人物，及其背後代表的意思，並樂此不疲。飄色巡遊結束後，往碼頭乘船回中環的遊人不多，很多人皆選擇留在島上，希望繼續觀察搶包山比賽。財政司司長唐英年亦到場主禮，並形容今年的飄色人人喜愛。 輪候搶包山入場券的北社海傍路球場入口處，於晚上7時人龍達三、四百人，大會約於8時半開始派飛，每人限取一張，其後仍然不斷有市民加入排隊，10時許入場券便派完，過程算暢順，但不少人失望而回，惟有轉往長洲體育館及海傍體育館，透過大型屏幕觀看直播，但現場人數不多。 冠軍郭嘉明任職消防員，是長洲原居民，他對今次成績感到滿意，很高興為長洲居民爭光，考慮明年會再次參加。
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off evil spirits they believed to be
responsible for a plague, according to one account. The festival on Cheung Chau
is supposed to ease the spirits of the people who died when plague struck the
island in the 19th Century. The sweet bun were supposed cure the
illness
This year was
held on May 5-5,2006 this year after it has been banned for 26 years
after the bamboo constructed bun tower collapsed in 1978 injuring over 100
climbers and onlookers. Traditionally, the day of festivities — that includes
a parade of fancifully dressed children held aloft on poles before the
competition. 
