XN000022-1977-11-26 — Page 4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1977

PUBLIC URGED TO ADVISE ON IMPROVEMENTS TO COUNTRY PARKS

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THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. E.H. NICHOLS, HAS CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO ADVISE ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF COUNTRY PARKS.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TWIN COUNTRY PARKS AT ABERDEEN AND TAI TAM TODAY, MR. NICHOLS SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE PARKS WERE MANAGED AND PROTECTED BY STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT, THEY IN FACT BELONGED TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

+MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN DO MUCH TO ASSIST US IN CONSERVING THE PARKS AND THE COUNTRYSIDE AS A VERY REAL NATIONAL ASSET AND FUTURE HERITAGE.

+WE ALSO WELCOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE PUBLIC BY THEIR CO-OPERATION IN TAKING CARE OF WHAT IS THEIR PROPERTY AND BY ADVISING US ON ANY IMPROVEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL FACILITIES WHICH THEY FEEL WOULD ADD TO THE PARKS' ATTRACTIVENESS,+ SAID MR. NICHOLS.

HE DESCRIBED THE ABERDEEN AND TAI TAM COUNTRY PARKS AS BEING +VIRTUALLY THE BACK GARDEN OF THE BUILT-UP AREAS OF HONG KONG

ISLAND WHERE MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE LIVE. +

THE TWO PARKS, WITH A TOTAL LAND AREA OF 1,738 HECTARES, ARE THE FOURTH AND FIFTH COUNTRY PARKS TO BE OPENED IN HONG KONG. THE FIRST, AT SHING MUN ATTRACTED 500,000 VISITORS IN 1970. DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN 2.5 MILLION VISITORS TO COUNTRY PARKS AND, ACCORDING TO MR. NICHOLS, THIS FIGURE WILL INCREASE BY ABOUT 10 PER CENT ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

WITHIN THE ABERDEEN AND TAI TAM COUNTRY PARKS THERE ARE 31 PICNIC AND BARBECUE PLACES, SEVEN RAIN SHELTERS, A CONCESSIONA IRE KIOSK AND TOILET FACILITIES. TWO MANAGEMENT CENTRES -- ONE AT WONG NAI CHUNG AND THE OTHER AT ABERDEEN HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO MANAGE AND PROTECT THE PARKS.

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THE ABERDEEN MANAGEMENT CENTRE INCLUDES A VISITOR RECEPTION AREA WHERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN SEEK ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION ON THE PARK AND ITS FACILITIES.

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