THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1974
GOVERNOR TOURS KWUN TONG DISTRICT *********
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON TOURED THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OF KOWLOON TO TAKE A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE AREA.
HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER (KOWLOON), MR. ANTHONY NEOH, AND THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (KWUN TONG), MR. MICHAEL SZE.
THE GOVERNOR FIRST VISTED A LARGE PLOT OF CROWN LAND AT THE END OF WA! YIP STREET WHICH IS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY
ILLEGAL SQUATTERS, JUNK DEALERS AND COOKED FOOD STALLS.
HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE PRESENT POSITION BY MR. SZE WHO POINTED OUT THAT TWO SITES HAD BEEN RESERVED IN THE AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT INTO U.S.D. COOKED FOOD BAZAARS. THERE ARE ALSO PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP THE CENTRAL PART INTO A TEMPORARY FOOTBALL PITCH AND A SITTING-OUT AREA.
THE GOVERNOR THEN DROVE TO THE KWUN TONG FERRY CONCOURSE WHERE THE NEW VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICE IS NOW PROVIDING A VERY USEFUL TRAFFIC LINK FOR FACTORIES IN KUUN TONG.
THE NEXT STOP WAS A TEMPORARY BASKETBALL PITCH AT THE JUNCTION OF WAN HON STREET AND HONG NING ROAD. THE BASKETBALL PITCH WAS DEVELOPED BY U.S.O. AFTER CLEARANCE OF SQUATTERS IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.
SIR MURRAY THEN WALKED ALONG AN UNNAMED PATH BEHIND PO CHARK PRIMARY SCHOOL IN THE KO CHIU ROAD ESTATE. THE PATH IS . ONE OF THE MAJOR LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS IN KWUN TONG, PROVIDING A LINK BETWEEN RENNIE'S MILL AND YAU TONG. THE CONSTRUCTION WORK WAS CARRIED OUT BY LOCAL VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS.
SIR MURRAY THEN TOURED THE KO CHIU ROAD ESTATE AND TALKED TO OPERATORS OF STALLS IN THE MARKET THERE.
THE GOVERNOR WOUND UP HIS TOUR BY CALLING ON THE SION SOCIAL SERVICES CENTRE IN THE KO CHIU ROAD ESTATE WHERE HE HELD TALKS. WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOCAL MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, KUUN TONG YOUTH SERVICE CORPS, KWUN TONG LIONS CLUB AND KAIFONG ASSOCIATION.
DURING THE MEETING, THE GOVERNOR ENDORSED THE WORK DONE BY THE AREA COMMITTEES. HE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE CRIME SITUATION IN THE VARIOUS HOUSING ESTATES IN THE DISTRICT,
HOWEVER, HE FELT THAT WHERE THERE WERE A STRONG MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE AND AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF AUXILIARY POLICEMEN PRESENT, THERE MUST BE A DECREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF CRIMES.
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