SWIMMING COMPLEX AND
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THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1976
PARK FOR HUNG HOM RESIDENTS' ******
RESIDENTS OF HUNG HOM AND NEARBY AREAS WILL SOON HAVE A HUGE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX AND PARK RIGHT AT THEIR DOORSTEP.
THE $15 MILLION PROJECT IS NOW BEING BUILT BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE ON A 1.5-HECTARE (3.6-ACRE) SITE OFF TAI WAN ROAD OVERLOOKING KOWLOON BAY.
MR. EDWIN WONG, CHIEF PWD ARCHITECT, SAID TODAY ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF THE SWIMMING COMPLEX HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND WORK ON THE ADJACENT PARK WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JULY.
TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK WILL BE INVITED IN TOMORROW'S (FRIDAY) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
+THE WHOLE PROJECT, MR. WONG SAID, +SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MAY NEXT YEAR IN TIME FOR THE SWIMMING SEASON.+
HE SAID THE SWIMMING COMPLEX WOULD PROVIDE NINE POOLS OF VARIOUS SIZES AND SHAPES AND WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 2,100 PEOPLE AT ANY ONE TIME.
THE TWO MAIN POOLS AND A DIVING POOL, HE SAID, HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO OLYMPIC STANDARD, AND THE LARGEST ONE WOULD BE HEATED DURING WINTER MONTHS TO PROVIDE FOR YEAR-ROUND SWIMMING.
IN ADDITION, THERE WOULD BE THREE TEACHING POOLS, TWO CHILDREN'S POOLS AND A PADDLING POOL FOR THE VERY YOUNG.
OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDED CHANGING ROOMS, TOILETS, A LIGHT REFRESHMENT CAFE AND FIRST-AID ROOMS TO BE HOUSED IN THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE SWIMMING COMPLEX.
THERE WOULD ALSO BE A COVERED STAND, HE SAID, FOR SPECTATORS DURING SWIMMING GALAS OR WATER SPORTS.
THE PARK, WHICH IS TO BE BUILT NEXT TO THE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX, WILL INCLUDE A MINI-SOCCER PITCH, TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, A CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA AND A GARDEN WITH A TURFED PROMENADE ALONG THE SEAFRONT PROVIDING A PLEASANT OASIS FOR 83,000 RESIDENTS OF THE CROWDED DISTRICT.
A MAIN FEATURE OF THE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA WILL BE NEW FASHION PLAY-EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING CLIMBERS, SWINGS, SLIDES, CAROUSELS AND SWING FLOATS.
THE GARDEN AREA WILL HAVE A REFRESHMENT KIOSK AND PAVILION, AS WELL AS BENCHES, SUN SHELTERS AND CHESS TABLES.
A LARGE SPECTATOR STAND FOR 800 PEOPLE WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED NEAR THE SOCCER PITCH WITH CHANGING ROOMS AND TOILETS UNDERNEATH.
THE SWIMMING COMPLEX AND PARK ARE BEING BUILT BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT UNDER THE URBAN COUNCIL'S SWITCH-FINANCE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT, THE COUNCIL FINANCES SOME GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS NOW UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL LATER BUILD A SIMILAR PROJECT WHICH IS A COUNCIL COMMITMENT.
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