SHING MUN RIVER TO BE BOAT PARK
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THE +DEAD+ SHING MUN RIVER IN SHA TIN WILL SPRING TO LIFE IN A FEW YEARS WHEN IT IS TURNED INTO A BOAT PARK.
THE RIVER IS AT PRESENT BEING DREDGED TO CLEAR IT OF ALL MUD AND RUBBISH TO GET IT FLOWING FREELY AGAIN.
IT IS HOPED THAT THE RIVER WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A DEPTH OF 1.8 METRES, MAKING IT IDEAL FOR BOATING ACTIVITIES.
THE 4 000 METRE LONG RIVER, WHICH FLOWS THROUGH WHAT WILL BE THE FUTURE CENTRE OF THE NEW TOWN, HAS AN OFFENSIVE SMELL AT PRESENT.
THIS IS CAUSED BY CHEMICALS BEING DUMPED INTO IT TOGETHER WITH REFUSE FROM PIGSTIES AND CHICKEN FARMS IN THE AREA.
A NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID THE RIVER WAS REGARDED AS DEAD BECAUSE OF ITS PRESENT LOW WATER LEVEL.
HE SAID AFTER DREDGING AND CLEANING UP HAD BEEN COMPLETED AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, WORK WOULD START IMMEDIATELY ON PREPARING THE RIVER FOR ITS NEW ROLE.
A STRETCH OF THE RIVER BETWEEN CHE KUNG MIU AND THE NEW TOWN CENTRE AREA, ABOUT TWO KILOMETRES LONG AND 200 METRES WIDE, WILL ACCOMMODATE UP TO 2 000 PLEASURE BOATS FOR HIRE.
ON THE SOUTH BANK OF THIS SECTION, A BOATING CENTRE WILL
BE BUILT WITH STORAGE FACILITIES.
OTHER STRETCHES WILL BE USED FOR ROWING COMPETITIONS AND SPORTS EVENTS, WHILE THE SIU LEK YUEN CHANNEL HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR CANOEING
GRAND STANDS AND OTHER FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE REMAINING SECTION TO ALLOW FOR INTERNATIONAL RACES.
IT WAS HOPED THAT DRAGON BOAT COMPETITIONS WOULD BE HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SHA TIN IN 1982, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
A WORKING PARTY ON THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF WATERWAYS IN SHA TIN HAS BEEN SET UP TO EXAMINE HOW BEST THEY CAN BE USED.
LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THE USE OF THE RIVER IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY THE PARTY WHICH CONSISTS OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID ALONG THE RIVER BANKS WOULD BE TWO GREEN BELTS. THESE WOULD INCLUDE A MILE-LONG TOWN PARK ON THE NORTHERN BANK AND A FIVE MILE LONG TREE LINED PROMENADE STRETCHING FROM TAI WAI TO VU KAI SHA.
HE SAID EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO KEEP THE RIVER CLEAR OF RUBBISH ONCE THE SPORTS CENTRE CAME INTO OPERATION.
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