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FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1977
IMPORTANT ROLE OF COMMUNITY HALLS
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COMMUNITY HALLS HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE SOCIAL LIFE OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LEK YUEN COMMUNITY HALL, SIR DENYS SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY HALL IN ANY PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE WITH A POPULATION OF 20,000 OR MORE.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF ABOUT 10 HALLS WHICH ARE TO BE OPENED IN THE NEXT YEAR, HE SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY NOTED THAT THE POPULATION OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN WOULD GROW FROM A FEW THOUSAND TO ALMOST HALF A MILLION DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
HE SAID ALL BUT A FEW THOUSAND OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE NEW TOWN WOULD COME FROM OTHER PARTS OF HONG KONG WHO WOULD BE TRYING TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN A NEW ENVIRONMENT.
THE PRESENT INHABITANTS OF SHA TIN WOULD HAVE SEEN AN UNCROWDED RURAL EXISTENCE REPLACED BY THE DIFFERENT PACE AND SOUND OF A BIG CITY, HE ADDED,
SIR DENYS SAID: +EVERYONE IN THE NEW TOWN, WHETHER OLD INHABITANT OR NEWCOMER, WILL HAVE TO ENDURE A PERIOD OF NOISE, DUST, MUD, DISORDER AND DISCOMFORT, WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME CONTINUES.
+THESE FACTORS MAKE IT OF EVEN GREATER IMPORTANCE THAN IT IS IN MORE SETTLED POPULATIONS THAT FACILITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR RECREATIONAL AND FOR VARIOUS KINDS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITY.+
THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID IF PEOPLE WERE TO LIVE A REASONABLY FULL LIFE, IT WAS NOT ENOUGH MERELY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH DECENT PLACES TO LIVE. +PREMISES MUST BE AVAILABLE IN WHICH THEY CAN PURSUE THE IR LIESURE INTERESTS AND TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY AFFARIS.+
HE SAID COMMUNITY HALLS WERE INTENDED TO SERVE AS A FOCAL PCINT FOR GROUP AND NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGE GROUPS.
+THEY WILL, WE BELIEVE, HELP TO CREATE A COHESIVE AND STABLE SOCIETY AND A SENSE OF INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHERS, HE ADDED.
SPEAKING AT THE SAME CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A COMMUNITY HALL WAS TO PROVIDE A SUITABLE CENTRE FOR THE MULTIFARIOUS FORMS OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AS WELL AS FOR VARIOUS CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
+THE COMMUNITY HALL IS ALSO INTENDED AS A MEANS OF ENRICHING THE LIFE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS, HE SAID.
THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT MORE COMMUNITY HALLS WOULD BE BUILT IN PUBLUC HOUSING ESTATES WITH A POPULATION OF 20,000 OR MORE IN FACT, FIVE HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.
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