XN000022-1973-10-17 — Page 61

14

"

Wednesday, October 17, 1973

The Council will also include within its purview the 5-year

Programme of Recreational Development and Nature Conservation, which

was announced last year. This is now beginning to get into its stride,

and to pass from the stage of planning to construction,

In addition to country parks and reserves already planned on

Hong Kong Island, Tolo Harbour, Shing Mun, Lion Rock and Pak Sha Wan,

two areas which are particularly rich in recreational opportunities are

Lantau Island and the Saikung peninsula. To enable Government to decide

how bost to utilise these special opportunities a comprehensive planning

study was commissioned from consultants and their recommendations are

expected in about a year's time. These plans should provide a framework for

the development of major holiday centres for our own people and for visitors,

as well as for the informal enjoyment of the countryside and beaches.

I attach great importance to this programme. Though recreational

facilities in the old urban areas will be greatly expanded, the sheer lack

of space makes it likely that they will always fall short of what we would

wish for so large a concentration of population. It is therefore essential

that proporly equipped recreational areas be opened up in the mountains

and beaches that surround the city, with proper road access, and staff

to keep them clean and attractive and to help the public to do so, and thus

ensure that everyone gets the maximum enjoyment out of them.

To those