WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974
27
MORE PLAY FACILITIES FOR THE YOUNG
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GOOD PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN PROVIDING MORE AND BETTER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION TODAY, THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE NOTED THAT THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, SET UP IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, HAD ALREADY ACHIEVED SOME SATISFACTORY RESULTS AND WAS FORGING AHEAD WITH BIGGER PROGRAMMES TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THE THOUSANDS OF HOLIDAY-MAKERS FLOCKING TO THE COUNTRYSIDE.
SIR MURRAY WELCOMED THIS MOVEMENT AND TO ENCOURAGE IT FUNDS HAD BEEN CHANNELLED INTO THE OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL TO EXPAND IT SO THAT MORE LEADERS FROM CITY DISTRICTS COULD BE TAUGHT HOW THE COUNTRYSIDE COULD BEST BE ENJOYED.
FUNDS HAD ALSO BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH THE COUNCIL FOR THE EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES IN VARIOUS STANDING CAMPS, OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ONES, THAT WILL RESULT IN SUPERVISED WEEKENDS IN THE COUNTRY FOR AT LEAST 15.000 MORE YOUNG PEOPLE NEXT YEAR.
+ IN ADDITION, PLANS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES FOR PROVIDING COUNTRYSJOE AMENITIES ARE NOW BEGINNING TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS,+ HE ADDED, NOTING THAT 30 MORE PICNIC SITES WOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE COMING YEAR IN ADDITION TO THE 60 SITES COMPLETED LAST YEAR TOGETHER WITH FIVE MILES OF PATH.
+ IF I MIGHT SAY SO, THE GOVERNOR SAID +THEY HAVE BEEN BUILT AND EQUIPPED WITH NOTABLE IMAGINATION AND GOOD TASTE.+
SIR MURRAY ALSO WELCOMED THE FORMATION OF THE YOUTH HOSTELS ASSOCIATION IN HONG KONG, AND SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS GIVING EVERY ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE IN THE PROVISION OF SITES FOR HOSTELS.
AS
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE COUNCIL HAD DONE MUCH AD HOC WORK, GREATLY HELPED BY GENEROUS PRIVATE DONATIONS. AN EXAMPLE HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE URBAN AREAS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SOME 190 CONCRETE PING PONG TABLES, VOLLEY BALL AND BASKETBALL PITCHES HAD BEEN ORDERED OR WERE IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION, ALONG WITH A CONSIDERABLE VOLUME OF EQUIPMENT.
MORE RECENTLY, A PILOT SCHEME FOR FIVE CITY DISTRICTS AND FOR YUEN LONG CAME INTO OPERATION. THE SCHEME AIMS AT ENCOURAGING AND ADVISING ON HOW TO MAXIMISE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN EACH DISTRICT AND AT ENCOURAGING THE USE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE BY PEOPLE OF THE CITY.
/SIR MURRAY