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SUNDAY, MAY 16, 1982
IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS AND RECREATION STRESSED
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SPORTS AND RECREATION ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING POPULATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
POINTING OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECOGNISED THEIR IMPORTANCE, HE SAID THE LAST FEW YEARS HAD SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE BOTH IN THE NUMBER OF EVENTS ORGANISED AND IN THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.
MR MACPHERSON WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE 1982 NEW TERRITORIES ATHLETIC MEET HELD AT THE TANG SHIU KIN SPORTS GROUND
IN TUEN MUN.
+ANOTHER VERY SIGNIFICANT AND ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN ORGANISING SPORTING EVENTS, INCLUDING THIS ATHLETIC MEET, HE SAID.
HE PAID SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, THE NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOL SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK WHOSE LEADERS HAD PARTICIPATED AS UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE AND THE ATHLETIC MEET ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
+THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND HARD WORK IS A VITAL INGREDIENT. THE NUMBER AND RANGE OF EVENTS IN WHICH THIS INITIATIVE IS EVIDENT IS NOW VERY GREAT INDEED.+
MR MACPHERSON ALSO THANKED THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR THEIR GENEROUS ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS WITHOUT WHICH SPORTING ACTIVITIES COULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO POPULAR.
+THIS COLLECTIVE ENTHUSIASM, HE ADDED, +MUST BE MATCHED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE VENUES AT WHICH TO HOLD COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS. HERE AGAIN WE HAVE BEEN HELPED BY THE GENEROSITY OF COMMUNITY LEADERS.
+IT IS PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE THAT TODAY'S VENUE SHOULD BE TANG SHIU KIN SPORTS GROUND. LOOKING A LITTLE FURTHER AHEAD, TUEN MUN WILL ALSO SOON BENEFIT FROM THE YAN 01 TONG INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE WHICH IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
+GOVERNMENT IS ALSO DOING ITS PART AND THERE ARE MANY PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE PIPELINE.
+NOR MUST WE FORGET THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND PROMOTION OF FACILITIES, IN WHICH THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE PLAY VITAL ROLES,+ HE SAID.
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