XN000022-1974-10-16 — Page 30

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974

SIR MURRAY NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE HEAVIER USE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE WOULD BRING PROBLEMS OF CONSERVATION AND HE EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR SYSTEMATIC EDUCATION OF ALL CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO PRESERVE THE MOUNTAINS AND THE BEACHES THEY VISIT.

AS A PRECAUTION, ADDITIONAL LITTER AND CLEANSING GANGS HAD ALREADY BEEN FORMED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. FIRE FIGHTING CREWS HAD ALSO BEEN SET UP AND CIVIL AID SERVICES WERE NOW TRAINING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FIRE FIGHTING COVERAGE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE THIS WINTER.

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+WHILE THESE SERVICES ARE STEADILY IMPROVING THE CLEANLINESS AND REDUCING THE FIRE HAZARDS IN THE MAIN POINTS AT WHICH VISITORS CONGREGATE, THERE REMAINS THE LITTER AND THE BUSH FIRES LEFT BY THE THOUGHTLESS AND THE CARELESS WHO ROAM FURTHER AFIELD.+ SIR MURRAY SAID.

HE APPRECIATED THE EFFORTS OF THE REGULAR HIKING AND PICNICKING CLUBS AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOW ACTING AS SCAVENGERS FOR THE IGNORANT AND CARELESS, BUT STRESSED THAT EVERYONE MUST PLAY HIS PART IN PRESERVING HONG KONG'S NATURAL BEAUTY.

WHILE HE EMPHASISED THE EXPANDING USES OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE GOVERNOR SAID THEY COULD ONLY SUPPLEMENT THE FACILITIES

+THE EFFORTS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, PROVIDED IN URBAN AREAS. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE MANY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES CONCERNED ARE THEREFORE VITAL, HE STRESSED.

SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT THE URBAN COUNCIL HAD CONTINUED TO MAKE RAPID PROGRESS, COMPLETING LAST YEAR 36 NEW PUBLI GARDENS, 20 CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS AND 26 COURTS FOR BASKETBALL OR VOLLEY BALL, AND A FURTHER SWIMMING COMPLEX IN KENNEDY TOWN. +THESE COMPLEXES ARE HELL TAILORED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF HONG KONG, AND COMPARE FAVOURABLY WITH ANYTHING PROVIDED ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.

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