XN000022-1978-07-08 — Page 5

SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1978

YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO FULLY

UTILISE SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN NT

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THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES MR. JOHN TODD TODAY (SATURDAY) URGED STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO FULLY UTILISÉ EXISTING AND PLANNED SPORTS AND RECREATION FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SPEAKING AT THE NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY, MR. TODD SAID THE ABSENCE OF SUITABLE VENUES FOR STAGING EVENTS HAD BEEN A CONSIDERABLE PROBLEM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE PAST.

+1 AM HOWEVER PLEASED TO SAY THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT BE WITH US FOR LONG FOR A WHOLE RANGE OF SPORTING FACILITIES IS BEING PROVIDED FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+MORE SPORTING STADIA, RUNNING TRACKS, FULL SIZE AND MINI SIZE SOCCER PITCHES, SQUASH AND TENNIS COURTS, BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL COURTS, INDOOR GAMES HALLS, SWIMMING POOLS AND A LOT MORE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

+THESE ADDITIONAL OUTLETS FOR SPORTS AND RECREATION SHOULD BE PROPERLY UTILISED,+ SAID MR. TODD.

HE ADDED THAT IT WAS MOST IMPORTANT THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY SHOULD RECEIVE A BALANCED EDUCATION IN THE WIDEST SENSE, INCLUDING HOW TO USE THEIR LEISURE TIME IN SPORTS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

MR. TODD PRAISED MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION INVOLVED IN ORGANISING REGULAR INTER-DISTRICT COMPETITIONS IN VARIOUS SPORTS AND PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING AND SPORTSMANSHIP IN LARGE-SCALE ANNUAL EVENTS WHICH BRING TOGETHER YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL THE DISTRICTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+ IT IS THEREFORE MOST PLEASING TO SEE A REMARKABLE GROWTH IN THE STRENGTH AND STATURE OF YOUR ASSOCIATION FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS 25 YEARS AGO INTO AN ORGANISATION WITH NINE DISTRICT BRANCHES AND MORE THAN 400 MEMBER SCHOOLS TODAY, MR. TODD SAID.

THE ASSOCIATION'S PRESIDENT, MR. LAU WONG-FAT, IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, SAID MORE THAN 20,00 STUDENTS HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE ASSOCIATION'S DIVERSIFIED SPORTS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS DURING THE PAST YEAR.

THESE EVENTS INCLUDED FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, TABLE TENNIS, BADMINTON, ATHLETICS AND GYMNASTICS MEETINGS, SWIMMING AND CROSS-COUNTRY RACES.

MR. TODD LATER PRESENTED TROPHIES AND PRIZES TO THE WINNERS.

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