FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1982
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QUARTERS BUILT FOR ENGINEERS ON A MASSIVE RESERVOIR SCHEME (HIGH ISLAND) CONVERTED INTO A HOLIDAY VILLAGE WITH ACCOMMODATION FOR 3001
A RESERVOIR WORKS SITE CONVERTED INTO A WATER SPORTS CENTRE (HIGH ISLAND), AND
THE ROOF OF A 28-STOREY HOUSING BLOCK (LAI TAK TSUEN) CONVERTED INTO A MINI-TENNIS CENTRE.
IN A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO REDRESS DEFICIENCIES, HE CONTINUED, THE USE OF EXISTING FACILITIES MUST BE MAXIMISED BECAUSE
A FACILITY, HOWEVER WELL DESIGNED AND ATTRACTIVE, WILL SELDOM INDUCE FULL UTILISATION BY CASUAL USE ALONE.
THIS IS ACHIEVED BY PROMOTIONAL EFFORT SO THAT PEAK-HOUR DEMANDS CAN BE PLATEAUED OFF INTO SLACK PERIODS. IN ADDITION, NEIGHBOURHOOD SPORTS ACTIVITIES ARE ORGANISED ON A GROUP BASIS BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, EARLY IN THE MORNING BEFORE THEY GO TO WORK, OR AT OTHER OFF-PEAK HOURS FOR SHIFT WORKERS AND HOUSEWIVES, HE SAID.
ALTHOUGH MAKESHIFT FACILITIES ARE UTILISED, MR WIGGHAM EMPHASISED THAT HE MUST NOT GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY ONES AVAILABLE.
+CONSIDERABLE FUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT IN RECENT YEARS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NETWORK OF DISTRICT FACILITIES, AND A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FACILITIES FOR VAR LOUS SPORTS,+ HE SAID.
→IN URBAN AREAS, THESE FACILITIES ARE HANDED OVER BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO BE MANAGED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, AND MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR THE DRAMATIC CHANGES IN THE AVAILABILITY OF FACILITIES IN RECENT YEARS MUST GO TO THE ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
THE COMMISSIONER SAID MANY INDOOR MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES COMPLEXES HAD TO BE BUILT BECAUSE OF SCARCITY OF SUITABLE SITES, WITH THE MOST AMBITIOUS ONE - THE AIR-CONDITIONED QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM COMPLETED TWO YEARS AGO.
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CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR ANOTHER FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED INDOOR STADIUM, THE 12 500-SEAT COLISEUM, IS NEARING COMPLETION AND IT WILL PROVIDE HONG KONG WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE FACILITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL SPORTS EVENTS AND MASS PERFORMANCES.
MR WIGGHAM ALSO GAVE EXAMPLES OF HOW THE HONG KONG SOLUTION BY BUILDING UPWARDS WERE BEING APPLIED IN A NUMBER OF PROJECTS WHICH WHEN COMPLETED WOULD ENABLE PEOPLE TO ENJOY RECREATION AND SPORTS AT THEIR VERY DOORSTEP.
THESE INCLUDE INCORPORATING SPORT AND OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN URBAN COUNCIL'S PLANS TO RE-DEVELOP OLD MARKETS.
R HIGGHAM SKID