XN000022-1976-03-02 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1976

BRAY IMPROVED AND EXPANDED CAMPING FACILITIES NEEDED

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THE SECRETARY, FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY THAT WITH THE FORMATION OF THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE AND ITS INVOLVEMENT IN DISTRICT CAMPING PROGRAMMES, IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT THAT NEW FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED AND OLD FACILITIES ARE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED+.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY AT WHICH HE UNVEILED A PLAGUE TO COMMEMORATE THE OPENING OF THE CARITAS YOUTH HOLIDAY CAMP, KNOWN AS OF FAI, ON CHEUNG CHAU ISLAND.

MR. BRAY SAID CAMPING HAD PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE DURING SCHOOL TERM, AT WEEKENDS FOR OTHERS. THROUGH THE EMPHASIS BEING PLACED ON THIS ACTIVITY BY THE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS AND THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS A TREMENDOUS DEMAND HAD BEEN FOSTERED.

MR. BRAY RECALLED THAT SINCE THE OPENING OF THE OTHER CAMP, KNOWN AS MING FAI CAMP, IN 1964, MORE THAN 108,000 CAMPERS HAD STAYED OVERNIGHT AND THERE HAD ALSO BEEN ABOUT 100,000 DAY-CAMPERS, MANY HAD TO BE TURNED AWAY TO THEIR REAL DISAPPOINTMENT.

HE SAID THE NEW CAMP WAS CONVERTED FROM A MISSIONARY LANGUAGE SCHOOL WHICH WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR BY TYPHOON ROSE IN 1971.

THE COST OF CONVERSION WAS MET BY TWO SIGNIFICANT DONATIONS - A $450,000 ALLOCATION FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND AND A SUM OF $750,000 OUT OF AN ANONYMOUS DONATION OF $10 MILLION.

THE NEW CAMP, MR. BRAY SAID, WOULD SUPPLEMENT THE EXISTING FACILITIES OF THE OTHER CAMP,

+THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES WILL BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WILL BE COMING TO ENJOY SUCH BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS, HE SAID,

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