22
Wednesday, October 18, 1972
However, he said he hoped progress can now be pushed with redressing
the balance between the "basics" and those things like playgrounds and
recreational areas that make life pleasanter for everyone and particularly
for young people.
The Governor said that, although space for recreation in the urban
areas is restricted by population density and the value and scarcity of land,
Hong Kong has an advantage of magnificient areas of mountain, beach and island
very close to the centres of population.
"Granted the shortage of space for recreation in the city itself, I
suggest that we therefore have a special obligation to develop for recreation
those adjacent rural areas, to make than accessible, and to take all possible
measures to ensure that their amenities are enhanced and not destroyed," he said.
He said a start has now been made with positive action along these
lines by accepting the five-year capital works programme of the two Committees
for Recreational Development and Nature Concervation in the New Territories
and Hong Kong Island.
Basically, he said, these programmes provide for the phased construction
of minor roads on Hong Kong Island to provide access for maintenance vehicles
and more facilties including picnic spots.
"In the New Territories, the programme provides for the construction
of a number of country parks to enable more intensive use to be made of selected
areas of particular attraction."
Referring to the pollution problem, Sir Murray said the Advisory
Committee on Environmental Pollution, set up in 1971, will be making its first
report shortly.
We already