SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1979
COMMUNITY AND SPORTS CENTRE FOR TUEN MUN
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED BY PRIVATE TREATY A 4 359 SQUARE METRE SITE TO THE YAN OI TONG TO BUILD A COMMUNITY AND SPORTS CENTRE IN TUEN MUN.
THE EIGHT-STOREY CENTRE WILL HAVE A ROLLER SKATING RINK AN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL, A MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES HALL, A GYMNASIUM, A BOWLING CENTRE, A GAMES AREA, BILLIARDS AND TABLE TENNIS ROOMS, SQUASH COURTS, A RESTAURANT FOR BO PERSONS AND FIVE SHOPS. OTHER FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE A LIBRARY, A MULTI-PURPOSE HALL, GALLERY, MEETING AND STUDY ROOMS, A CRECHE AND PLAY AREA, YOUTH AND ADULT ACTIVITY ROOMS AND OFFICE SPACE.
IT WILL HAVE A TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF MORE THAN 152 000 SQUARE FEET AND IS EXPECTED TO BE READY TOWARDS THE END OF 1982.
THE ESTIMATED CAPITAL COST OF THE CENTRE IS $27.2 MILLION PLUS A FURTHER $2.8 MILLION FOR FURNITURE AND FITTINGS. OF THI TOTAL, $8 MILLION HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THE PROJECT BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, $6 MILLION WILL COME FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND AND $7 MILLION WILL BE RAISED FROM THE SALE OF PROPERTY BY THE YAN OI TONG, FORMED 50 YEARS AGO BY COMMUNITY LEADERS IN TUEN MUN AS A CHARITABLE BODY DEVOTED TO PROVIDING WELFARE SERVICES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. THE BALANCE OF $9 MILLION IS EXPECTED TO COME FROM CONTRIBUTIONS BY INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND THE PROCEEDS OF FUND RAISING DRIVES.
TERMS OF THE GRANT INCLUDE A $27 MILLION BUILDING COVENANT TO BE FULFILLED WITHIN 48 MONTHS.
A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO ENSURE MAXIMUM USE OF THE CENTRE'S SPORTS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND ITS EFFICIENT RUNNING WILL BE SET UP WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND THE YAN OI TONG.
A NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID LIMITED COMMERCIAL FACILITIES WERE ALLOWED IN THE CENTRE AND THIS HAD BEEN AGREED AS THE YAN OI TONG WAS A REPUTABLE BODY WHOSE PRIMARY INTENTION WAS TO SUBSIDISE EXISTING OR PLANNED NON-PROFIT MAKING FACILITIES. THE COMMERCIAL FACILITIES WOULD BE RELATED TO THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE GRANT WAS MADE, AND SO FAR AS OTHER APPLICATIONS WERE CONCERNED THESE WOULD BE ENTERTAINED ON THE IR OWN MERITS.
HE ADDED UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL DEVELOPMENT OF GENERAL OFFICE ACCOMMODATION OR COMMERCIAL SHOP SPACE ON LAND GRANTED BY PRIVATE TREATY BE PERMITTED AND THE BAN ON LETTING OF COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING RIGHTS WILL BE MAINTAINED.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SHOPS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE TUEN MUN SPORTS AND COMMUNITY CENTRE WOULD BE CLOSELY CONTROLLED AND RESTRICTED TO USES SUPPORTING THE OBJECTS OF THE CENTRE.
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