XN000022-1976-05-13 — Page 8

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1976

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HELP FOR RECREATIONAL CLUBS

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THE GOVERNMENT IS DELIGHTED TO HELP RECREATIONAL CLUBS WITH ABLE AND DEVOTED LEADERS AND A POLICY OF ENCOURAGING FULL MEMBERSHIP, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SOUTH CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION'S MULTI-STOREY SPORTS CENTRE, HE SAID: A COMBINATION OF A LITTLE GOVERNMENT HELP WITH MUCH ENTHUSIASM AND DEVOTION BY CLUB MEMBERS, OFFER AN EXCELLENT WAY TO BRING MORE AND MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES TO PEOPLE WHO WILL ENJOY USING THEM,+

MR. BRAY SAID THERE MIGHT BE THREE WAYS TO PROVIDE MORE FACILITIES, MORE ORGANISED EVENTS AND MORE RECREATIONAL OPENINGS.

THEY WERE FIRSTLY, PUBLIC AUTHORITIES (THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT) WITH FEES CHARGED IN SOME CASES- SECONDLY, COMMERCIAL FACILITIES WHERE THE OPERATOR PROVIDES A SERVICE FOR AN ECONOMIC RETURN AND LASTLY, NON-PROFIT MAKING CLUBS WHERE MEMBERS PAY FOR WHAT THEY GET BUT MANAGEMENT IS PROVIDED FREE BY THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES.

ALL THREE METHODS, HE ADDED, HAD A ROLE TO PLAY,

HOWEVER, HE BELIEVED THAT CLUBS WERE IN MANY CASES THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE AND RUN FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY COULD DO THIS ECONOMICALLY IF THEY HAD SUFFICIENT ABLE, ENERGETIC AND DEVOTED MEMBERS TO RUN THEM,

IN ADDITION, MR. BRAY SAID A CLUB COULD GET FREE OR CHEAP LAND AND IT COULD APPEAL FOR DONATIONS BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS NOBODY IS MAKING A PRIVATE PROFIT FROM IT+.

BUT HE STRESSED THAT CLUBS SHOULD NOT BE EXCLUSIVE OR RESTRICTIVE IF THEIR FACILITIES WERE TO BE FULLY USED.

+THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PROBABLY LESS ABLE TO AFFORD FULL SUBSCRIPTIONS. THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS THEY FOSTER AND PROMOTE FRIENDLY COMPETITION WITH OTHER CLUBS,+ HE ADDED.

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