Chinese pageants on stage Saturday

JAKARTA: Thirty-two Chinese Indonesians will appear on stage for the selection of the Chinese version of Mr. and Ms. Jakarta, or Cici-Koko 2003, this Saturday.

The contest, the second to be staged, is being organized by the tourism office of the West Jakarta municipality in cooperation with the Jakarta Society of Chinese Indonesians.

A total of 120 people registered for the event, but only 104, including 41 men, went through to the selection process.

Abdul Chair, head of the tourism office, told Beritajakarta.com, that the grand final would be highlighted by lion dances (barongsai), with MTV VJs Ari and Dessy Chang presenting the event.

The finalists have been staying in the Hotel Batavia since last weekend, as well as participating in a series of briefings and rehearsals for the event, which will be staged in the hotel's ballroom. --JP