XN000022-1978-12-14 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1978

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HK STUDENTS' CENTRE IN LONDON RE-OPENED

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A RECEPTION WAS HELD ON TUESDAY (DECEMBER 12) EVENING TO MARK THE FORMAL RE-OPENING OF THE HONG KONG STUDENTS' CENTRE IN LANCASTER GATE, LONDON, FOLLOWING A 400,000 POUNDS STERLING RENOVATION PROGRAMME.

HONG KONG'S LONDON COMMISSIONER, MR. DENIS BRAY, AND MRS. BRAY WELCOMED THE GUESTS, AMONG WHOM WERE TWO OF HIS PREDECESSORS, MR. A.J.M. WRIGHT AND MR. S.T. KIDD.

GUESTS INCLUDED HONG KONG STUDENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WHO WERE CLEARLY PLEASED WITH THE NEW FACILITIES OFFERED AT THE CENTRE - A FOCAL POINT FOR THEM.

RESIDENT STUDENTS SHOWED GUESTS AROUND THE BUILDING AND. JUDGING BY THEIR REACTIONS, A POPULAR FEATURE OF THE CENTRE IS ITS NEW SELF-CATERING KITCHEN WITH 12 COOKING UNITS, AND THE COMMUNAL DINING HALL.

WITH THE RENOVATIONS COMPLETED, THE CENTRE HAS INCREASED ITS ACCOMMODATION TO 45 ROOMS. IT CAN NOW ACCOMMODATE 90 STUDENTS IN FOUR, THREE AND TWO-BEDDED ROOMS.

THE CENTRE ALSO HAS A GAMES ROOM EQUIPPED WITH TABLE TENNIS A MUSIC ROOM AND TWO TV/RECREATION ROOMS. THERE IS A REFURBISHED STUDY AREA AND A NEW GAS-FIRED CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM.

SMOKE DETECTION EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN FITTED, AND THE ENTIRE BUILDING REWIRED.

THE CENTRE NOW HAS A 17-FOOT ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FILM SCREEN, MOST OF THE COST OF WHICH CAME FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH RECREATION FUND.

THE RENOVATION PROGRAMME, WHICH BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, INCLUDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTERNAL FIRE ESCAPE.

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