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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1975
HE STRESSED THAT ORGANISED RECREATION IN THE HOUSING CONDITIONS OF HONG KONG WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AND HE ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO MAKING AVAILABLE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO ACHIEVE MORE GENERAL AND DECISIVE RESULTS.
*BUT OF COURSE, SIR MURRAY SAID, THE FINEST RECREATIONAL FACILITY THAT HONG KONG POSSESSES IS ITS OWN COUNTRYSIDE.
GOOD PROGRESS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE IN CONSTRUCTING PICNIC AND BARBECUE SPOTS, NATURE TRAILS, FOOTPATHS AND TRACKS AND THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSE TO THESE FACILITIES HAD PROVED HOW RIGHT THE PROGRAMME WAS AND HOW MUCH IT WAS NEEDED.
BUT THE INCREASING POPULARITY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE HAD BROUGHT A REAL DANGER OF BEAUTY SPOTS BEING SWAMPED AND THE COUNTRYSIDE BEING DESTROYED BY LITTER OR FIRES STARTED BY CARELESS PEOPLE AND THE TIME HAD COME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE BOTH TO PRESERVE THE COUNTRYSIDE AND TO ENCOURAGE ITS PROPER USE, SIR MURRAY SAID.
IN THIS RESPECT, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO DESIGNATE SELECTED AREAS AS COUNTRY PARKS. LEGISLATION FOR THIS WAS ALREADY IN DRAFT AND INCLUDES PROPOSALS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AUTHORITY TO MANAGE THE PARKS AND FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT BY THE CREATION OF A COUNTRY PARKS BOARD.
SIR MURRAY SAID THE PLANS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE HEUNG YEE KUK WHICH SUPPORTED THEM.
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