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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1976
THE FACILITIES PROVED TO BE A BOON TO THE PUBLIC AND THE BEST WERE ADOPTED AS THE STANDARD DESIGNS FOR COUNTRYS IDE RECREATION FACILITIES IN HONG KONG.
A YEAR LATER, THE AREA HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR INFORMAL RECREATION AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COUNTRYSIDE RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY. BY THE END OF MAY THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 48 PICNIC PLACES HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH SOME 300 TABLE AND BENCH UNITS, ABOUT 400 BENCHES AND MORE THAN 200 BARBECUE PITS.
IN ADDITION, RAIN SHELTERS, CHILDREN'S ADVENTURE PLAY EQUIPMENT AND LITTER BINS HAVE BEEN PLACED AT VARIOUS PARTS OF THE AREA.
AS THE PROPOSED PARK IS EXTREMELY POPULAR, PLANS TO DEVELOP THE EASTERN PART OF THE AREA HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND WORK WILL BEGIN ONCE THE SHING MUN EAST FOREST ROAD IS COMPLETED.
COMMENTING ON THE INTENTION TO DESIGNATE THIS AREA AS A COUNTRY PARK, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THE POPULARITY OF THE PLACE WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY CONTINUE TO GROW.
+SHING MUN IS NEVER WITHOUT PEOPLE, EITHER ON WEEKDAYS OR AT WEEKENDS, HE SAID.
+WE BELIEVE THAT THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE AREA WILL INCREASE YEAR AFTER YEAR. AS MORE PEOPLE VISIT THE PARK, THE DEMAND FOR VARIOUS FACILITIES WILL LIKEWISE INCREASE.
+WE HAVE VARIOUS PLANS IN HAND AND THEY INCLUDE MORE BARBECUE PITS,.PLAY AREAS, TABLES AND BENCHES, SPECIAL PAGODA TYPE SHELTERS AND PUBLIC TOILETS.+
WITH MORE PEOPLE VISITING THE PARK, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, THE AREA WOULD REQUIRE STRINGENT MANAGEMENT. HE REVEALED THAT AT PRESENT THE PARK'S STAFF FACED TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS: HILL FIRES AND LITTER DUMPING.
+DURING THE LAST DRY SEASON, A TOTAL OF 62 FIRES OCCURRED, AFFECTING SOME 1,000 HECTARES (2,500 ACRES) CF PLANTATION AND OTHER VEGETATION, HE SAID.
+ THE WORST FIRE WAS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR AND IT BURNED FOR 33 HOURS. MOST OF THESE FIRES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CARELESSNESS OF INDIVIDUALS.
BECAUSE OF THIS THE LIGHTING OF FIRES FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER, EXCEPT IN AN +APPROVED BARBECUE SITE+ IS PROHIBITED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THIS IS A REGULATION WHICH MUST AND WILL BE ENFORCED, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
/+LITH