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FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1982
+THESE EFFORTS RESULTED IN THE OPENING OF THE LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE IN JANUARY 1981 AND THE TAI MEI TUK WATER SPORTS CENTRE IN FEBRUARY 1982, + MR WIGGHAM SAID.
SINCE EARLY 1977, HE ADDED, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN LOOKING IN TO THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING A PURPOSE-BUILT RECREATION CENTRE IN WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES, AS BOTH EXISTING CENTRES ARE SITED IN SAI KUNG.
THE PRESENT SITE. WHICH WILL FORM AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FUTURE TSO KUNG TAM PARK, WAS IDENTIFIED AS SUITABLE FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT.
+DUE TO VARIOUS UNFORESEEN FACTORS SUCH AS SLOPE STABILITY PROBLEMS, THE PROJECT UNDERWENT A PERIOD OF REAPPRAISAL AND REDESIGN, MR WIGGHAM SAID.
+HOWEVER, I AM PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT, THROUGH THE GOOD WORK OF THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING OF THIS PROJECT WE ARE NOW ABLE TO BRING THIS WORTHWHILE PROJECT TO FRUITION, HE ADDED,
THE TSO KUNG TAM OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE WILL CONSIST OF THREE MAIN BLOCKS, INCLUDING DINING AND ASSEMBLY HALLS DORMITORIES, LECTURE HALLS, LIBRARY, INDOOR GAMES AREAS AND OFFICES.
THERE WILL BE TWO SWIMMING POOLS, A SMALL SERVICE BUILDING- AND GAMES AREAS FOR BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, ROLLER SKATING, ATHLETICS, SOCCER, HANDBALL, ARCHERY, FITNESS TRAINING, AND MINI-GOLF.
THE CAMPING AREA WILL HAVE TOILETS AND SHOWERS AND THERE WILL ALSO BE 12 SITTING-OUT AREAS AND A CAR PARK.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED BY MID-1984.
THE CENTRE WILL CATER FOR A TOTAL OF 786 PEOPLE - WITH SLEEPING ACCOMMODATION FOR 336 PEOPLE, AND SPACE FOR 150 CAMPERS AND 300 NON-RESIDENT DAY VISITORS.
+BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PUBLIC DEMAND FOR CAMPING AND RECREATION FACILITIES, THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED FOR CENTRES SUCH AS TSO KUNG TÀM.
+FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1979-80 THE SAI KUNG OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE HAD TO TURN DOWN APPLICATIONS FROM 710 GROUPS, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 44 000 PARTICIPANTS ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE CENTRE'S TOTAL ANNUAL INTAKE, HE SAID.
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MORE THAN 130 000 CAMPERS ARE EXPECTED TO USE THE TSO KUNG TAM CENTRE EACH YEAR, DOUBLE THE CAPACITY OF THE SAI KUNG FACILITY.
THE TSO KUNG TAM CENTRE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO HELP EASE THE SHORTAGE OF RECREATIONAL AND SPORTING FACILITIES AT TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN, WHICH NOW HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 600 000. IT WILL ALSO SERVE PEOPLE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
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