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TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1974.
RECREATIONAL OUTLETS GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY
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HONG KONG'S PRESENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT PROVISION FOR THE LEISURE OF YOUNG PEOPLE +HAS BECOME CENTRAL, AND OF HIGH PRIORITY, + THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY OF THE SOUTH CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION'S NEW MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS CENTRE AT CAROLINE HILL, WHICH WILL PROVIDE SUPERVISED RECREATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
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SIR MURRAY SAID THAT FOR TOO LONG HONG KONG HAD BEEN INCLINED TO REGARD RECREATION AND SPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AS A LUXURY, AND HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SCAA FOR ITS PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE YOUNG.
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH:-
+TODAY'S CEREMONY MARKS AN IMPORTANT STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND ITS PROVISION FOR RECREATION AND SPORT IN HONG KONG AND I AM HERE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THIS PROJECT.
+FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE BEEN INCLINED TO REGARD RECREATION AND SPORT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AS A LUXURY AND AS SOMETHING PERIPHERAL. BUT I BELIEVE THAT AT OUR PRESENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT PROVISION FOR THE LEISURE OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAS BECOME CENTRAL, AND OF HIGH PRIORITY.
+FACILITIES ARE OF PARTICULAR VALUE IF SUPERVISION IS PROVIDED. I HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY THE NUMBER OF PARENTS WHO HAVE TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO GO TO PLAYGROUNDS WHICH ARE UNSUPERVISED.
+THEY ARE ALSO OF PARTICULAR VALUE IF THEY ARE MULTI- STOREY AND MULTI-PURPOSE AND MAXIMISE USE OF LAND IN THIS CROWDED CITY.
+THIS NEW SPORTS CENTRE MEETS ALL THESE CRITERIA IT WILL PROVIDE RECREATION OF MANY SORTS FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE: IT MAKES GOOD USE OF THE SITE IT WILL BE WELL SUPERVISED. I WISH IT AND ITS SPONSORS ALL POSSIBLE SUCCESS.
+1 AM SURE THAT CENTRES OF THIS SORT CAN MEET A GREAT NEED IN HONG KONG, AND I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER FIELD FOR A CHARITABLE BEQUEST BY A DONOR OR GROUP OF DONORS THAN TO BUILD THIS SORT OF CENTRE, AND THUS HELP TO MAKE GOOD THE DEFICIENCIES IN PROVISION FOR THE LEISURE OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
+1 CONGRATULATE THE SOUTH CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ON POINTING THE WAY.+
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