THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1979
GIVING THE PUBLIC WHAT IT WANTS
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THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, PRAISED THE URBAN COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY) FOR ITS RESPONSE TO MEET THE GROWING ENTHUSIASM FOR RECREATION IN THE URBAN AREAS OF HONG KONG.
SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING WHEN HE UNVEILED A PLAQUE TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE COUNCIL'S FIRST INDOOR GAMES HALL ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
HE NOTED THERE WERE ALREADY FOUR SUCH FACILITIES IN KOWLOON.
SIR MURRAY SAID ONE OF THE MOST PLEASING RECENT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN GROWTH OF ENTHUSIASM FOR RECREATION. IT IS FUN- IT IS SOCIALLY GOOD. THERE ARE FEW THINGS WORSE FOR A COMMUNITY THAN BOREDOM AND INACTIVITY AMONGST ITS YOUTH.
+THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS RESPONDED WELL TO THIS DEMAND IN THE URBAN AREAS BY PROVIDING STEADILY INCREASING SPORTING AND LEISURE FACILITIES, SOME OF WHICH ARE OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY AND INGENUITY.+
THE $5 MILLION COST OF THE INDOOR GAMES HALL WAS MET PARTLY BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND PARTLY BY A GENEROUS DONATION BY SIR YUE-KONG PAO,
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME SIR YUE-KONG HAD MADE A DONATION FOR THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND THANKING HIM ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF ABERDEEN,
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INDOOR GAMES HALL WERE ALSO CONGRATULATED BY SIR MURRAY FOR COMPLETING IT IN ONLY NINE MONTHS.
IN ADDRESSING THE GUESTS AT THE CEREMONY SIR YUE-KONG PAO SAID HONG KONG RANKED AS ONE OF THE MOST FORTUNATE PLACES IN THE WORLD WHERE THE ECONOMY HAS LIFTED THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ITS CITIZENS TO A LEVEL EQUALLED BY FEW OTHER LOCALITIES IN THE REGION.
*WITH THE RISE IN LIVING STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS, THERE COMES A NEED FOR THE YOUNG MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY TO REACH OUT FOR WHOLESOME AND ENJOYABLE DIVERSIONS TO OCCUPY THEIR LEISURE HOURS.
+SPORTS AND GAMES NO DOUBT PROVIDE THE BEST OF SUCH OUTLETS AS THEY WILL HELP CULTIVATE A HEALTHY AND ENERGETIC YOUNG GENERATION ON WHOM SO MUCH OF THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WILL DEPEND.+
IN STARTING OFF THE CEREMONY THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAIRMAN,
MR. A. DE 0. SALES, SAID THE OCCASION WAS PARTICULARLY
SIGNIFICANT FOR HONG KONG,
HE SAID ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST SUCCESSFUL AND DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS HAD CO-OPERATED WITH THE URBAN COUNCIL IN PROVIDING THIS FACILITY.
/HE SAID