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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1979
ACTING GOVERNOR CALLS ON PRIVATE SECTOR
TO PROMOTE RECREATION AT SEA
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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR JACK CATER, TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED ON INDIVIDUALS AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS" TO HELP PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATION AT SEA.
SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION OF THE TOLO HABOUR- CANOE RACE ORGANISED BY THE OUTWARD BOUND (ALUMNI) ASSOCIATION, SIR JACK SAID +DESPITE ITS SMALL TOTAL AREA, HONG KONG HAS HUNDREDS OF MILES OF COASTLINE AND THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL TO EXPAND OUR USE OF THE SEA FOR RECREATION AND ENJOYMENT. +
THE GOVERNMENT, WITH ITS HEAVY COMMITMENT TO ESSENTIAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON BASIC SOCIAL REQUIREMENTS, WOULD HAVE SCANT RESOURCES TO DEVOTE TO DEVELOPING THESE FACILITIES FROM PUBLIC FUNDS, HE SAID.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SIR JACK'S SPEECH.
+MY WIFE AND I ARE DELIGHTED TO MEET YOU ALL TODAY. I AM PARTICULARLY GLAD TO ATTEND TODAY'S FUNCTION BECAUSE, DESPITE ITS SMALL TOTAL AREA, HONG KONG HAS HUNDREDS OF MILES OF COASTLINE AND THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL TO EXPAND OUR USE OF THE SEA FOR RECREATION AND ENJOYMENT.
I AM SURE WE ARE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE A TREMENDOUS INCREASE
IN THESE ACTIVITIES, AND IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO KEEP
UP WITH DEMAND FOR SHORE BASES, FOR BOATSHEDS, SLIPWAYS AND MOORINGS. MOREOVER THE GOVERNMENT WITH ITS HEAVY COMMITMENT TO ESSENTIAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON BASIC SOCIAL REQUIREMENTS WILL, I AM AFRAID, HAVE SCANT RESOURCES TO DEVOTE TO DEVELOPING THESE FACILITIES FROM PUBLIC FUNDS. I HOPE THEREFORE THAT INDIVIDUALS AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS YOURS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO PROMOTE THIS VERY WORTHWHILE DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATION AT SEA.
+THERE IS A CHINESE SAYING "BELITTLE THE MOUNTAINS BUT NEVER THE WATER'. DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SPORTS MUST GO TOGETHER WITH THE SKILL AND RESPECT FOR THE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS OF THE SEA. THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN SPREADING THE MESSAGE OF PLAYING SAFE', AND I AM GLAD TODAY TO SEE THAT THESE SIMPLE RULES FOR PLAYING SAFE AT SEA ARE BEING OBSERVED.
+1 CONGRATULATE YOU ALL ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND ON YOUR SUCCESS IN ORGANISING THE SIXTH TOLO HARBOUR CANOE RACE TODAY. MAY I ALSO CONGRATULATE ALL THE WINNERS IN THE VARIOUS EVENTS AND INDEED ALL THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN PART IN MAKING THIS SUCH AN ENJOYABLE OCCASION.+
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