XN000022-1976-08-14 — Page 4

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1976

GOVERNOR VISITS SAI KUNG OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY HAD ON THE FIELD DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAI KUNG RECREATION CAMP WHILE ON A TOUR OF THE FIRST CAMP ORGANISED THERE BY THE SERVICE.

SAI KUNG RECREATION CENTRE WAS FORMERLY SAI KUNG ARMY CAMP AND WAS HANDED OVER ABOUT A MONTH AGO TO THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE FOR CONVERSION INTO AN OUTDOOR HOLIDAY CAMP FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

A TEAM OF STUDENTS FROM THE DESIGN SECTION OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, ASSISTED BY YOUNG VOLUNTEERS, HAVE DRAWN UP LAY-OUT PLANS AND HAVE SET ABOUT TO DECORATE THE NISSEN HUTS.

THE CENTRE, WHICH CAN CATER FOR OVER 200 CAMPERS AT PRESENT. IS EXPECTED TO BE EXPANDED TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO 400. IT WILL BE OPEN ALL THE YEAR ROUND AND WILL BE THE FIRST-EVER LARGE-SCALE OUTDOOR HOLIDAY CENTRE OFFERING ORGANISED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

DURING HIS VISIT TODAY, THE GOVERNOR SAW SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES OF 280 YOUNGSTERS WHO WERE HAVING THEIR LAST DAY AT THE CAMP.

THE ACTIVITIES WERE DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS -FIELD STUDIES, ART AND CRAFT, MUSIC APPRECIATION AND SPORTS TRAINING. THE ART AND CRAFT CAMP HAD ON DISPLAY AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY THE CAMPERS AND A BAND FROM THE MUSIC CAMP PROVIDED LIGHT-MUSIC FOR THE VISITORS. SPORTS TRAINING WAS AVAILABLE IN TRAMPOLIN, ARCHERY, ROPE LADDER SCALING, ROLLER SKATING AND BALL GAMES.

SIR MURRAY WAS BRIEFED ON DEVELOPMENTS THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE HAD IN MIND FOR THE CENTRE, INCLUDING A SWIMMING POOL FOR LEARNERS AND A GAMES AREA, AND HAD DISCUSSIONS ON THE SPOT WITH THE PRINCIPAL EDUCATION OFFICER (PHYSICAL EDUCATION, RECREATION AND SPORT), MR. MIKE CASWELL, AND THE CHIEF RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICER, MISS BETTY MAIR AND OTHER SENIOR STAFF ON HOW BEST TO MAKE USE OF THE RECREATION SITE.

BEFORE HE LEFT, THE GOVERNOR PAID A VISIT TO THE CAMP LECTURE ROOM AND LABORATORY SET UP FOR THE SCHOOL FIELD STUDIES AND RECREATION CAMP WHICH ENDED YESTERDAY, AND WAS MET BY PROFESSOR L.B. THROWER OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, CHAIRMAN OF AN AD HOC WORKING PARTY ON +FIELD STUDIES CENTRE+.

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