XN000022-1977-08-29 — Page 3

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MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1977

* SUPPORTING FLANS TO PRESERVE THE OLD VILLAGE OF SAM TUNG UK IN A BID TO RETAIN SOME REMINDER OF THE OLD DAYS IN TSUEN WAN WHICH HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RURAL SETTLEMENT.

* PLANNING TO RESTORE THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF A WELL-KNOWN 'LOCAL

BEAUTY SPOT AT SAN DIP TAM WHICH IS THREATENED BY POLLUTION AND UNSIGHTLY SQUATTER DEVELOPMENT.

* DETAILING A SCHEME TO IMPROVE FOOTPATHS AND PROVIDE RAIN

SHELTERS FOR LOCAL MORNING WALKERS IN THE HILL AREA EENND SHEK LEI.

LOOKING BACK OVER THE PAST 16 MONTHS OF THE COMMITTEE'S WORK THE CHAIRMAN, MR. HAYES, SAID TODAY: +THE COMMITTEE HAS SHOWN IT CA' BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING NEW PROJECTS INTENDED TO PROVIDE, I TIKE, THE FULL RANGE OF RECREATIONAL AND AMENITY FACILITIES IN THE NEW TOWN.+

+ITS UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED AND CAPABLE PERSONS WHOSE OPINIONS ARE OF GREAT VALUE TO THE IR OFFICIAL COLLEAGUES, + HE SAID.

MR. HAYES SAID THE GOVERNMENT SEES THE NEED OF HAVING ADEQUATE FEED-BACK FROM THE LOCAL PEOPLE REGARDING FACILITIES AND AMENITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE PROVIDED AS PART OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.

THE COMMITTEE WAS THEREFORE SET UP TO ENABLE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO CONSULT INTERESTED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE LOCAL PEOPLE ON THE PLANNING, MANAGEMENT AND UTILISATION OF BOTH EXISTING AND FUTURE FACILITIES AND AMENITIES.

+THIS IS A NEW VENTURE, BUT A LOGICAL STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF OUR LOCAL MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION, AND IT IS A NECESSARY AND WORTHWHILE ONE TO TAKE AT THIS STAGE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NE* COMMUNITY IN TSUEN RAN,+ HE SAID.

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ECHOING MR. HAYES' REMARKS, A SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, PR. CHI. HOX-CHEN, SAID: IT HELPS FURTHER TO NARRCH THE GAP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC AND ENABLES THE LOCAL PEOPLE TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT.

+OFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES MOST HELPFUL AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY GO ALONG WITH CUR IDEAS, HE SAID.

LIKE OTHER MEMBERS, MR. CHOW DOES A LOT OF HOMEWORK BEFORE HE GIVES IDEAS AT MEETINGS. AS CHAIRMAN OF THE STANDARDS OF FACILITIES SUB-COMMITTEE, HE GOES ON PRIVATE INSPECTIONS OF RECREATION AND AMENITY FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT AND RECCM ENDS IMPROVEMENTS HE CONSIDERS NECESSARY FOR THE BENEFIT CF THE RESIDENTS.

EXAMPLES ARE HIS RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE POSSIBILITY OF MULTI- PURPOSE USAGE OF FACILITIES BUILT CRGINALLY TO CATER FOR ONE PARTICULAR SPORT, BRINGING SPORTING PITCHES UP TO STANDARD COMPETITION SIZE, AND THE 1STALLATION OF OVERHEAD FLOOD-LIGHTING IN TENNIS COURTS OF THE SHA TSUI POAD PLAYGROUND.

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