XN000022-1976-03-16 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1976

MASSIVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR SHA TIN

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SHA TIN, LONG A POPULAR HOLIDAY SPOT WITH CITY DWELLERS, IS TO GET VAST NEW RECREATIONAL FACILITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE 500,000 PEOPLE WHO WILL LIVE IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN BY 1985.

UNDER THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE NEW TOWN, MILES OF NATURE TRAILS AND HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF NATURAL RESERVES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE NEWCOMERS, TOGETHER WITH MODERN SPORTS GROUNDS, SWIMMING POOLS AND A NETWORK OF SPECIAL CYCLE PATHS,

DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ARE BEING MADE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PART OF THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN EXHIBITION NOW BEING HELD AT THE LEK YUEN ESTATE IN SHA TIN BY THE P.W.D.'S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (N.T.D.D.).

THE EXHIBITION IS OPEN FROM 10 A.M. TO 7 P.M. UNTIL THURSDAY IN THE LEK YUEN COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.

MR. JOHN DON, THE N.T.D.D.'S SHA TIN NEW TOWN PROJECT · MANAGER, SAID TODAY THE SECTION ON RECREATION WAS PROVING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FEATURES OF THE EXHIBITION.

HE SAID : +SINCE THE EXHIBITION OPENED LAST SATURDAY WE'VE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW THE NEW TOWN WILL DEVELOP AS A PLEASANT AND COMPLETE COMMUNITY. AT THE WEEKEND THEY WERE COMING THROUGH AT THE RATE OF ABOUT 1,500 AN HOUR.

+ IT HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT NOT ONLY HAVE PEOPLE FROM SHA TIN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA BEEN COMING, BUT ALSO BUSLOAD AFTER BUSLOAD FROM VARIOUS AREAS OF KOWLOON FROM WHICH WE WOULD EXPECT TO DRAW MUCH OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN'S POPULATION GROWTH. EVEN THE EXTRA BUSES LAID ON BY THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY ON ITS NO. 89 KWUN TONG-SHA TIN ROUTE WERE PACKED, AND WE'VE BEEN SELLING OUT STOCKS OF MAPS ON SHA TIN SO QUICKLY WE'VE HAD TO BRING IN EXTRA SUPPLIES.+

MR. DON SAID THAT SHA TIN, WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SETTING, OFFERED IMMENSE POTENTIAL AS A RECREATIONAL AREA, AND P.W.D. PLANNERS HAD LAID GREAT STRESS ON CONSERVING ITS NATURAL ASSETS OR ENHANCING THEM.

ONE NOVEL FEATURE OF THE NEW TOWN, HE SAID, WOULD BE A NETWORK OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PATHS, WHICH HAD BEEN DESIGNED AS A RECREATIONAL AMENITY AS WELL AS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.

+THESE FOOTPATHS AND CYCLE TRACKS WILL BE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN ROADS, AND WILL LINK MOST OF THE MAJOR LEISURE AREAS WITHIN THE TOWN AND THE NATURAL RESERVES ON THE OUTSKIRTS,+ HE SAID.

/+THE CYCLE