SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1980
GOVERNMENT SETS UP HOLIDAY CENTRE FOR THE FAMILY
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HONG KONG'S FIRST FAMILY HOLIDAY CENTRE WILL OPEN SOON TO THE PUBLIC IN THE EAST SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK.
SET IN 12 HECTARES OF WOODED COUNTRYSIDE NEAR PAK TAM CHUNG, THE LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE WILL PROVIDE CHALET-STYLE ACCOMMODATION FOR UP TO 120 OVERNIGHT VISITORS.
TOGETHER WITH DAY CAMPERS, SOME 90 000 PEOPLE A YEAR WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY ITS FACILITIES.
THE VILLAGE, TO BE MANAGED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, WILL FEATURE A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
BUILT ORIGINALLY AS ENGINEERS' QUARTERS BY THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR CONTRACTORS, IT HAS UNDERGONE A FIRST PHASE OF TRANSFORMATION INTO A HOLIDAY RESORT FOR HONG KONG'S OVERCROWDED MILLIONS.
ABOUT HALF THE BUNGALOWS RANGING IN SIZE FROM 3-BED UNITS OF 30 SQUARE METRES TO 100 SQUARE METRE UNITS SLEEPING 12 HAVE BEEN RENOVATED, INSTALLED WITH SPECIALLY-DESIGNED FURNITURE, AND EQUIPPED WITH AIR-CONDITIONERS IN THE BEDROOMS AND WATER HEATERS IN THE SHOWERS. MOST OF THE UNITS HAVE SITTING-ROOMS.
+THESE BUNGALOWS ARE IDEAL FOR FAMILIES AND SMALL GROUPS UNLIKE OUR SAIKUNG OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE, WHICH IS MORE SUITED TO LARGE GROUPS OF ENERGETIC YOUNGSTERS, THE MANAGER OF THE VILLAGE, MR CHARLES CHU SAID TODAY.
+HERE WE WANT TO ATTRACT FAMILIES TO RELAX AND SHARE A FEW DAYS OF ENJOYMENT TOGETHER.
+WE ARE PROVIDING A LOT OF THINGS TO DO - FOR EXAMPLE CYCLING, ARCHERY, A ROPE COURSE, TRAMPOLINING - BUT THE ACCENT WILL BE ON RELAXATION. THERE IS A CANTEEN SO NO ONE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT COOKING, AND THERE IS A SPECIAL BUS TO TRANSPORT CAMPERS BETWEEN THE VILLAGE AND SAI KUNG TOWN, MR CHU SAID.
WHEN COMPLETED, THE WHOLE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION FOR UP TO 250 PEOPLE, A SWIMMING-POOL, AN INDOOR ACTIVITIES AREA AND MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES,
+WE WERE FORTUNATE IN BEING ABLE TO MAKE AN EARLY START ON THE PROJECT THROUGH A $2 MILLION DONATION FROM SIR SHIU KIN TANG FOR THE FIRST PHASE, BUT THE REST OF THE VILLAGE MAY NOT BE COMPLETED FOR A YEAR OR TWO. WE ARE ALREADY BUSY PLANNING THE NEXT STAGE, MR CHU SAID,
+ IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE VILLAGE WILL BE A SUCCESS. WHERE ELSE IN HONG KONG CAN YOU STAY IN SUCH PLEASANT SURROUNDINGS FOR ONLY $12 A NIGHT?+ HE ASKED.
THE VILLAGE WILL BE OPENED BY LADY MACLEHOSE ON JANUARY 8.
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