SUNDAY, MPTEBER 16, 1984
IN FACT, SOME OF THESE EQUIPMENT ARE BUILT OF NEARLY INDESTRUCTIBLE PLASTIC WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS IN MAINTENANCE COST, MR NG CHI-HING, ASSISTANT STAFF OFFICER (RECREATION) OF THE CITY SERVICES DÉPARTMENT, SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE SELECTION OF NEW OR REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT, DUE CONSIDERATIONS ARE GIVEN TO THEIR SAFETY, PLAY VALUE, ATTRACTIVENESS TO CHILDREN AND DURABILITY.
+THOUGHT IS ALSO GIVEN TO PROVIDE A GREATER VARIETY OF EQUIPMENT IN THE ENTIRE SET UP OF A PARTICULAR PLAYGROUND, + MR NG SAID.
+AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, THE MATERIAL OF THE EQUIPMENT IS CHOSEN FOR ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH ITS IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS.
+FOR EXAMPLE, WE TRY TO AVOID INSTALLING EQUIPMENT MADE FROM METAL IN PLAYGROUNDS NEAR SEA WATER AS THE SALTY ATMOSPHERE WILL EASILY CORRODE THE MATERIAL.
+ON SAFETY SIDE, AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PLAYGROUNDS IS BEING PAVED WITH SYNTHETIC MATTING, WHICH CUSHIONS A CHILD IN A FALL AND THUS PREVENTS SERIOUS INJURY. SUCH SYNTHETIC SURFACES ARE NOW A STANDARD ITEM IN NEWLY-COMPLETED CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS,+ MR NG ADDED.
AT PRESENT THE COUNCIL MANAGES 186 CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND EQUIPPED WITH MORE THAN 870 PIECES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT.
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND DESPITE ITS PROBLEMS WITH FINANCE AND LAND RESOURCES, THE COUNCIL IS PLANNING TO PROVIDE 85 MORE CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR.
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
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GOVERNMENT POLICY AIMED AT PROMOTING COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES THROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN PRIORITY LOCATIONS, INCLUDING TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY.
SPEAK ING AT THE CARITAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AT YUEN CHAU KOK TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA IN SHA TIN, HE SAID THE RESIDENTS HAD COME FROM DIFFERENT AREAS, AND NEEDED TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.
THERE WERE 36 SUCH PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, PROVIDING VARIOUS SERVICES TO RESIDENTS.
HE WAS PLEASED THAT CARITAS HAD SET UP A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN THE YUEN CHAU KOK TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, SERVING ITS 12 000 RESIDENTS.
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