XN000022-1977-02-19 — Page 3

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1977

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COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN SHA TIN

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THE GOVERNMENT IS STEADILY BUILDING UP COMMUNITY AND RECREA- TIONAL FACILITIES AT SHA TIN TO KEEP PACE WITH THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.

THE FOCUS OF THE BUILD-UP IS THE $3 MILLION CARITAS SOCIAL CENTRE WHICH WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE AMERICAN COUNSUL-GENERAL, MR. CHARLES CROSS, JUST BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

THE CENTRE WILL PROVIDE SHA TIN'S 50,000 RESIDENTS WITH A DAY NURSERY FOR 100 CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR, ROOMS AND OFFICES FOR FAMILY SERVICES, A LIBRARY, MEETING ROOMS, LECTURE ROOMS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, A MULTI-PURPOSE HALL AND A CHURCH.

AND BEFORE THE PAINT HAS BARELY DRIED ON THE CARITAS COMPLEX THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENING A NEW COMMUNITY HALL AT THE LEK YUEN ESTATE.

+THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HOPES TO OPEN THE DOORS OF THE HALL EARLY NEXT MONTH AND ALONG WITH THE CARITAS CENTRE, IT WILL PROVIDE A VALUABLE OUTLET FOR COMMUNITY, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PURSUITS, THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. MICHAEL SUEN, SAID TODAY.

+ IN ADDITION, WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED ON A TEMPORARY PLAYGROUND NEAR THE CARITAS CENTRE WHICH WILL HAVE A MINI SOCCER PITCH AND BASKETBALL COURTS AND WE HOPE IT WILL BE FINISHED LATER THIS YEAR.

+THIS PLAYGROUND WILL BE A GOOD BACK-UP TO THE SOCCER PITCH ALREADY OPERATING AT TAI WAI.+

MR. SUEN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD APPROVED AN INCREASE IN STAFF IN SHA TIN TO ENSURE A SMOOTH COMMUNITY BUILDING PROCESS.

AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. EDDIE CHAN, HAS ALREADY TAKEN UP A NEW POST AND HAS SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CO-ORDINATING RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.

+WE NOW ALSO HAVE A RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICER, AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE NEW HALL AT LEK YUEN WILL ALSO ACT AS COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICER AT SHA TIN UNTIL A FULL-TIME CYO IS APPOINTED, MR. SUEN SAID.

+1N ADDITION, THE USD HOPES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FULL-TIME URBAN SERVICES OFFICER IN SHA TIN LATER THIS YEAR.+

MR. SUEN SAID A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES WERE BEING PLANNED, INCLUDING A SHA TIN ATHLETICS MEET NEXT MONTH PRIOR TO THE N.T.-VIDE ATHLETICS MEET IN MARCH, A SOCCER TOURNAMENT AND TAI CHI CLASSES AT TAI WAT AND LEK YUEN.

+WE WILL EXPAND THE RANGE OF FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES AS THE NEW TOWN GROWS, MR. SUEN SAID,