WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
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THERE HAD ALSO BEEN A PERCEPTIBLE CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF OUR CITY, HE SAID. FROM THE NEGLECTED, UNINTERESTING, GREY AND SHABBY STREETS OF THE PAST, TREES NOW LINE THE ROADS AND SHRUBS AND PLANTS DECORATE THE WASTE AND EMPTY SPACES THANKS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL IN ITS ROLE AS +FA WONG+ (GARDENER).
AND AS CITY MANAGER, THE URBAN COUNCIL WAS THERE BUILDING MARKETS, CLEARING OBSTRUCTIONS, HOLDING THE LINE BETWEEN FAIR COMPETITION AND ANTI-SOCIAL INVASION OF THE 31 000 HAWKERS WHO THRUST THEIR WAY ONTO PAVEMENTS SELLING WHAT THEY WILL, WHERE THEY WILL.
THE COUNCIL ALSO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH THROUGH LICENSING AND INSPECTING SOME 3 400 RESTAURANTS AND 1 300 COOKED FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
REFERRING TO THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS IN RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE, MR AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT FOR THE QUIET AND THOUGHTFUL THERE WERE LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. FOR THOSE BURSTING WITH ENERGY THERE WERE 1 300 SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, BASKETBALL COURTS, MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, TENNIS COURTS, VOLLEY BALL, SOCCER PITCHES, ROLLER SKATING RINKS AND INDOOR GAMES HALLS.
AND THERE WERE MORE TO COME.
-WITH 66 SWIMMING POOLS, HE SAID, +WE HAVE MORE SWIMMING POOLS THAN ANY CITY IN THE WORLD.+
HE ALSO CITED THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM WHICH HAD GROWN FROM AN ORIGINAL IDEA AS A BUILDING TO PLAY PING PONG TO A MAJOR VENUE FOR SPORT EVENTS AS WELL AS MUSIC, BALLET AND ENTERTAINMENT. IN ADDITION, THE COLISEUM AT HUNG HOM WOULD OPEN IN APRIL WITH SEATS FOR 12 500 PEOPLE TO WATCH MASS SPECTACLES, SKATING, VARIETY SHOWS AND CONCERTS.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THAT WHEREAS CULTURAL EVENTS IN THE SIXTIES WERE LOOKED FORWARD TO AND TALKED ABOUT AFTERWARDS, WE COULD NOW PICK AND CHOOSE AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR AND ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
HONG KONG NOW HAD ITS OWN WESTERN ORCHESTRA, CHINESE ORCHESTRA, BALLET TROUPE AND DRAMA COMPANY TAKING ARTISTIC LIFE TO THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN PARTICULAR, THE FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS BRINGS A COLOURFUL STRAND OF DANCE MUSIC AND DRAMA FROM ALL OVER ASIA TO ENRICH AND INFLUENCE OUR LIVES.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE RISING LEVEL OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND THE HEAVY DEMAND ON EXISTING FACILITIES HAD STIRRED THE COUNCIL TO PLAN DISTRICT AND REGIONAL CULTURAL CENTRES TO PROVIDE
IN EACH DISTRICT, AUDITORIUM, EXHIBITION HALLS, ROOMS FOR CONFERENCES, MUSICAL PRACTICE AND REHEARSALS.
+ALL THESE MANY AND VARIED MATTERS ARE DECIDED, ORGANISED AND ARRANGED BY THE COUNCILLORS WORKING MANY HOURS IN COMMITTEE ON YOUR BEHALF, MR AKERS-JONES SAID, APPEALING TO VOTERS TO DO THE IR PART BY CASTING THEIR BALLOT FOR THE CANDIDATE OF THE IR CHOICE ON POLLING DAY.
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