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SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1975
INDOOR STADIUM TO COMMEMORATE ROYAL VISIT
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COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE POOLING RESOURCES
TO BUILD A 3.700-SEAT INDOOR STADIUM AND SPORTS CENTRE TO COMMEMORATE THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO HONG KONG.
THE MORRISON HILL STADIUM HAS BEEN A CASUALTY OF FINANCIAL STRINGENCY BUT PRIVATE DONORS HAVE NOW RAISED A TOTAL OF
$8 MILLION TOWARDS THE $22.5 MILLION PROJECT. THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB IS TO GIVE ANOTHER $2 MILLION, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK FINANCIAL COMMITTEE APPROVAL TO DONATE THE PROCEEDS OF THE COMMEMORATIVE GOLD COIN IN EXCESS OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON THE VISIT. THIS IS EXPECTED TO BRING TOTAL DONATIONS AND PLEDGES TO OVER $17.5 MILLION AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO COMMISSION WORK ON THE PROJECT.
FURTHER DONATIONS ARE STILL MOST WELCOME AND MAY BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS OR HANDED IN AT ANY CITY DISTRICT OFFICES.
DETAILED PLANNING OF THE INDOOR STADIUM OF WHICH HONG KONG IS DESPERATELY IN NEED, WILL START IMMEDIATELY. WORK ON THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN JUNE, 1978.
GING
THE STADIUM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN EXHIBITION AREA TOGETHER WITH A HIGH RISE BLOCK IN WHICH BESIDES A DORMITORY, CONFERENCE-COMMITTEE ROOMS, OFFICE ACCOMMODATION AND TOILET-CHANG I NG ROOM FACILITIES, THERE WILL ALSO BE SPECIAL FLOORS GIVEN UP FOR GAMES PRACTICE AREAS.
THE MAIN HALL HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 3,700 SPECTATORS IN STEPPED SEATING, GROUPED AROUND AN ARENA IN WHICH TABLE TENNIS, VOLLEY-BALL AND BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS AND EXHIBITIONS MAY BE STAGED. OTHER EXHIBITIONS SUCH AS GYMNASTICS, TRAMPOLINING, JUDO, FENCING, ETC. MAY ALSO BE DEMONSTRATED WITHIN THIS ARENA.
OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDE A GYMNASIUM, SQUASH COURTS, ACCOMMODATION FOR TABLE TENNIS PRACTICE, JUDO, FENCING, ARCHERY, AND MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES WHICH REQUIRE INDOOR VENUES AND ARE ALWAYS IN DEMAND.
IT IS ENVISAGED THAT AT LEAST THREE FLOORS IN THE HIGH RISE BLOCK, CONSTRUCTED AS OPEN HALLS, SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR TABLE TENNIS. EACH FLOOR WOULD ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 20 TABLES.
THE GOVERNMENT