SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION LI FOOK LAM INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE AND THE NEWLY COMPLETED TAI MEI TUK WATER SPORTS CENTRE WOULD BRING ABOUT A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT TO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN TAI PO.
HE SAID THE PEOPLE OF TAI PO HAD ALWAYS BEEN A LIVELY, INVOLVED AND SPIRITED COMMUNITY. THE TIMELY CONSTRUCTION OF THIS INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE BY THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT GIVEN TO IT BORE THIS OUT.
+BUT PERHAPS THE BEST INDICATOR IS THE DEEP CONCERN SHOWN BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD ON DISTRICT NEEDS AND PROBLEMS AND ITS CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
+A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE BOARD'S PROPOSAL TO ENLARGE AND AIR-CONDITION THE HALL OF A SECONDARY SCHOOL TO PROVIDE FOR DISTRICT CONCERTS AND PERFORMANCES, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT MR STEPHEN WONG HAD GENEROUSLY PLEDGED A DONATION OF $1.6 MILLION TO THIS PROJECT AND THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED IT IN PRINCIPLE AND WOULD SEEK APPROVAL THIS MONTH FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUIRED.
+THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED BY THE COMING ELECTIONS AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WITH STRONG LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THE TAI PO COMMUNITY SPIRIT WILL BE MAINTAINED AND ENHANCED AND WILL GUIDE AND MAINTAIN THE TOWN'S CHARACTER AND TRADITION THROUGH THE PERIOD OF RAPID GROWTH THAT LIES AHEAD, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
HE THANKED ALL CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, MR LI, THE MAIN DONOR, MR WAI, AND OTHERS FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS. HE ALSO COMMENDED THE ASSOCIATION FOR +ITS VISION AND FORESIGHT IN MASTERMINDING THIS VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT.+
THE GOVERNOR WAS ACCOMPANIED AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING BY MR MACPHERSON, MR LO, MR WONG AND MR LI.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, THE GOVERNOR SAW A MODEL OF THE CENTRE AND AN EXHIBITION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION.
FACILITIES AT THE INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE WILL INCLUDE BADMINTON AND BASKETBALL COURTS, GYMNASTIC ROOMS, A DANCING STUDIO AND BOWLING ALLEY.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED AT $13 MILLION, OF WHICH $11 MILLION HAS BEEN PLEDGED BY VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS AND DONORS MAINLY FROM OR CONNECTED WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED BY THE EARLY PART OF NEXT YEAR. ON COMPLETION, THE CENTRE WILL HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST INDOOR GAMES HALLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,
ALL IMA