XN000022-1976-02-13 — Page 8

7

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1976

$1.45M TO BE SPENT ON IMPROVING TRACKS

*****

OVER $1.45 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON IMPROVING THE TRACKS IN ALL GOVERNMENT SPORTS STADIUMS IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE WORLD STANDARD FACILITIES FOR THE TRAINING OF LOCAL ATHLETES.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT SUBMITTED BY A BRITISH COACH TO THE AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, OVER-UTILISATION OF HONG KONG'S PLAYING SURFACES HAVE SUBJECTED THEM TO A HIGH DEGREE OF WEAR.

THE RESULT IS THAT ORDINARY ASPHALT AND CINDER TRACKS SINK RAPIDLY INTO DISREPAIR AND MAY EVEN BECOME DANGEROUS FOR ATHLETES, AS INJURIES TO THE LOWER LEG CAN EASILY OCCUR ON OVER-HARD, HOT AND OFTEN CRUMBLING ASPHALT.

AFTER EXTENSIVE ENQUIRIES TO A NUMBER OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFICERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTION FOUND THE IDEAL SURFACING MATERIAL FOR HONG KONG'S TRACKS - A FINELY CRUSHED YELLOW DOLOMITE PRODUCED BY A QUARRY IN BRITAIN - WHICH IS SUFFICIENTLY ECONOMICAL AND YET GOOD ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND CONSTANT USE.

A MINIMUM ORDER FOR 5,000 TONNES, SUFFICIENT FOR FIVE SITES, WITH 20 TO 25 PER CENT LEFT OVER FOR REFURBISHING, HAS BEEN PLACED, AND WORK ON THE NEW FIELDS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN APRIL.

THE ORDER IS VALUED AT $1.45 MILLION, BUT EXTRA EXPENSES WILL HAVE TO BE MADE TO CARRY OUT RENOVATION AND FOUNDATION WORKS, AND TO CONVERT THE TRACKS - ORIGINALLY BUILT ON IMPERIAL MEASUREMENTS INTO PROPER 400 METRE CIRCUITS.

THE TRACKS TO BE IMPROVED ARE AT THE HONG KONG AND MONGKOK STADIUMS, ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND, THE KOWLOON TSAI AND PERTH STREET SPORTS FIELDS, AND SPORTS GROUNDS IN TSUEN WAN, YUEN LONG AND TAI PO.

MEANWHILE, ALL THE 32 TENNIS COURTS IN THE URBAN AREA ARE ALSO BEING RESURFACED UNDER ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME.

WORK ON THE COURTS IN VICTORIA PARK, THE VENUE FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS, ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED DURING 1976-77.