SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 1979
CROSS TOLO HARBOUR SWIM MAY TAKE A NEW COURSE
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THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE POPULAR CROSS TOLO HARBOUR SWIM, HELD ANNUALLY IN TAI PO FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS, MAY HAVE TO LOOK FOR A NEW COURSE AS RECLAMATION IN THE DISTRICT IS PROGRESSING.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION OF THE 12TH CROSS TOLO HARBOUR SWIM.
+THIS YEAR IS SPECIAL TO THE RACE, HOWEVER, AS FROM NOW ON I BELIEVE THE ORGANISERS MAY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT À NEW COURSE,+ MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.
+TAI PO IS GROWING INTO A NEW TOWN, AND THE WAY RECLAMATION IS PROCEEDING ACROSS THE BAY THE RACE IS GOING TO GET MUCH SHOR TER THAN THE TRADITIONAL 2,000 METRES.
+
+ALREADY, THE TAI PO DRAGON BOAT RACES ARE HAVING TO LOOK FOR A NEW COURSE BECAUSE OF THIS.+
THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT THE POPULARITY OF THE EVENT HAD GROWN WITH THE TAI PO DISTRICT.
IN 1968 WHEN THE FIRST SWIM WAS HELD THERE WERE 80 CONTESTANTS AND THIS YEAR THE NUMBER IS 420.
+1 AM SURE THE ORGANISERS OF THIS RACE AND OTHER SPORTING ACTIVITIES IN TAI PO WILL CONTINUE THEIR WORK FOR THE PEOPLE AND MEET THE CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE,+ HE ADDED.
THE SWIMMING CONTEST WAS ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND FINANCED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD.
IT STARTED FROM THE HA HANG RECLAMATION NEAR THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE AND FINISHED AT THE ISLAND HOUSE, MR. AKERS-JONES' RESIDENCE IN YUEN CHAU CHAI.
THE ELDEST CONTESTANT IN TODAY'S RACE WAS A 55-YEAR-OLD MAN AND THE YOUNGEST, A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY.
TO IMPROVE SPORTING FACILITIES IN THE FAST GROWING TAI PO NEW TOWN, THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO BUILD A SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX IN THE DISTRICT.
WORK ON THE COMPLEX, ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT $14 MILLION, IS EXPECTED TO START IN 1981 AND TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.
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