XN000022-1977-04-11 — Page 2

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1977

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+DUE TO HONG KONG'S MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, HE SAID, +FLYING HERE DEMANDED MUCH HIGHER STANDARD FROM HELICOPTER PILOTS THAN IN MANY OTHER PLACES AND THIS IS WHY OUR PILOTS MUST HAVE PROPER TRAINING ON PROPER MILITARY TRAINING AIRCRAFT+.

TO ENSURE THEIR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, ALL PILOTS AND CREWMEN OF THE R.H.K.A.A.F. ARE TESTED BY THE ROYAL AIR FORCE EXAMINING UNIT ONCE A YEAR AND ALL MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND REGULAR TRAINING.

FORMED IN 1949, THE R.K.K.A.A.F. AT PRESENT OPERATES A FLEET OF FIVE AIRCRAFT - THREE HELICOPTERS, A TWIN-ENGINED ISLANDER AND A MUSKETEER LIGHT AIRCRAFT.

IT HAS A STRENGTH OF SOME 130, OF WHOM 110 ARE VOLUNTEERS, BOTH EUROPEANS AND CHINESE, WHO GIVE UP A LOT OF THEIR FREE TIME FOR THIS SERVICE WHICH IS OF MUCH BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT.

N.T. SPORTS PROJECTS IN ADVANCED STAGES *******

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT PROJETCS WERE NOW WELL ADVANCED AND WOULD, ON COMPLETION, PROVIDE ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR COMPETITIVE SPORTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

HE SAID THESE PROJECTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES MARKED A CONSISTENT EFFORT TO MAKE GOOD THE PRESENT DEFICIENCIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, THE NEXT TWO YEARS WOULD SEE THE SCHEDULED COMPLETION OF AN INDOOR GAMES HALL IN SOUTH KWAI CHUNG, THE FLOODLIGHTING AND CONVERSION OF THE YEUNG UK ROAD SPORTS GROUND INTO A 10,000-SEAT STADIUM, AND A 10-ACRE SPORTS GROUND IN KWAI CHUNG.

+THESE AND PLANS FOR MANY FACILITIES ARE WELL ADVANCED, AND WE CAN LOOK FORWARD CONFIDENTLY TO THE DAY WHEN THERE WILL BE ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR COMPETITIVE SPORTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TOWNS, HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE SECOND NEW TERRITORIES ATHLETIC MEET JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE HEUNG YEE KUK, THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICES OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOL'S SPORTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION AT THE MONG KOK STADIUM,

HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE NEW TERRITORIES BENEFITED FROM HAVING THE MAJORITY OF NATURAL RECREATIONAL AREAS SUCH AS COUNTRY PARKS, BEACHES, WALKING AREAS AND RESERVOIRS WHICH UNDOUBTEDLY PROVIDED CONSIDERABLE SCOPE FOR HEALTHY RECREATION, THEY WERE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE PROVISION OF PURPOSE-BUILT GAMES AND SPORTS FACILITIES.

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