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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976
MORE MONEY FOR RECREATION AND SPORT
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WORK ON THE INDOOR STADIUM AT HUNG HOM IS TO START IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, A YEAR EARLIER THAN ANTICIPATED AND FLOODLIGHTING AT THE HONG KONG STADIUM IS TO BE IMPROVED AT A COST OF $1.8 MILLION.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES MENTIONED IN THE BUDGET SPEECH BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY.
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FUNDS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR A NUMBER OF PROJECTS. WOULD ALSO BE PREPARED TO SEEK SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION IF I CAN BE SATISFIED THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS CAN BE USEFULLY SPENT WITHIN THE COMING YEAR, HE SAID.
AMONG THE PROVISIONS IN 1976-77 ARE AN ADDITIONAL $6 MILLION TO DEVELOP THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR RECREATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE SAI KUNG, SHING MUN, ABERDEEN AND BRIDE POOL AREAS AND TO STAFF TWO MANAGEMENT CENTRES, AND A FIRST ALLOCATION OF $5 MILLION FOR A PROGRAMME OF IMPROVEMENT ON THE SOUTH LANTAO ROAD TO OPEN UP THE CONSIDERABLE RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL OF LANTAO.
PROVISION HAS ALSO BEEN INCLUDED TO OPEN UP BUTTERFLY BEACH IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, TO DEVELOP THE TSUEN WAN SWIMMING POOL, AND TO CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PLAYGROUND AND SPORTS GROUND FACILITIES IN KWAI CHUNG.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BE LETTING CONTRACTS TO THE VALUE OF OVER $40 MILLION FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE URBAN AREA ON BEHALF OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
IN ADDITION NEARLY $6 MILLION, DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS ALLOCATION, HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION' AND SPORT, THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SCHEME, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHÉME AND HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL, AND THE ORGANISATION OF LOCAL, SPORTING EVENTS.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT EXPENDITURE ON RECREATION AND SPORT HAD BEEN SUPPLEMENTED BY ABOUT $4 MILLION FROM SPECIAL
UNDS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. +WE SHALL NOW HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SUCH ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR THIS EXPENDITURE AS THE LOTTERIES FUND FROM WHICH, ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY FLOW OF GRANTS TO IMPROVE FACILITIES,+ HE SAID.
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