XN000022-1977-10-14 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1977

COUNTRY PARK MANAGEMENT CENTRE AT PAK TAM AU TO BE OPENED

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THE PAK TAM AU MANAGEMENT CENTRE ONE OF FOUR COUNTRY PARK MANAGEMENT CENTRES TO BE ESTABLISHED IN SAI KUNG -- WILL BE OPENED TOMORROW (SATURDAY).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID SAI KUNG IS ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR WITH PICNICKERS IN RECENT YEARS.

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VISITED THE PICTURESQUE PENINSULA LAST YEAR, AND THIS INFLUX OF VISITORS HAD BROUGHT WITH THEM THE PROBLEMS OF LITTER, HILL FIRES, AND STREAM POLLUTION.

+THIS HAS LED THE GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNISE THE NEED TO PROTECT THE PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES AND STEPS HAVE THEREFORE BEEN TAKEN TO PROVIDE COUNTRYSIDE MANAGEMENT SERVICE, HE SAID.

THE MANAGEMENT CENTRE AT PAK TAM AU, COSTING OVER $800,000, CONSISTS OF AN OFFICE BUILDING WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN SEEK INFORMATION ON THE SAI KUNG COUNTRYSIDE, A WORKSHOP AND GARAGE, A STORE AND BARRACK ACCOMMODATION.

THE CENTRE WILL BE STAFFED BY ABOUT 60 MEN TO UNDERTAKE DUTIES OF LITTER COLLECTION, FIRE FIGHTING, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PICNIC FACILITIES. ONE OF THEIR MAIN TASKS WILL BE TO GUIDE THE VISITORS IN THE CARE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE SO THAT THE IR PRESENCE WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE LIFE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS.

THE CENTRE, COMPLETED LAST MONTH, WILL BE OPENED JOINTLY BY MR. DONALD YAP, A MEMBER OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD AND MR. LAU KOON-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE SAI KUNG RURAL COMMITTEE AT 3 P.M. TOMORROW.

AFTER THE CEREMONY, A DEMONSTRATION ON FIGHTING HILL FIRES WILL BE STAGED BY THE COUNTRY PARKS STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. THERE WILL ALSO BE A DISPLAY OF COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS OF WILD FLOWERS IN HONG KONG.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MANAGEMENT CENTRE AT PAK TAM AU ON SATURDAY (OCTOBER 15) AT 3 P.M. A GOVERNMENT VAN FOR THE PRESS WILL LEAVE THE CAR PARK BEHIND THE TSIM SHA TSU! POST OFFICE AT 1.45 P.M. ON THAT DAY, AND WILL RETURN TO KOWLOON BEFORE 5.30 P.M. SEATS ARE LIMITED AND WILL BE ON A FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED BASIS.

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