XN000022-1979-02-05 — Page 4

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1979

3

SAI KUNG BEAUTY AND AMENITIES TO BE MAINTAINED

*****

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (MONDAY) CALLED FOR A UNITED EFFORT TO MAINTAIN THE BEAUTY AND AMENITIES IN THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT.

SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE FIRST SAI KUNG FESTIVAL, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID: IT IS MOST IMPORTANT WHEN OUR LIVING ENVIRONMENT IS THREATENED FROM MANY DIRECTIONS AND FOR MANY PURPOSES THAT WE MAKE A UNITED EFFORT TO MAINTAIN THE BEAUTY AND AMENITIES OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT. +

+ I HOPE THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD WILL BE ABLE TO EXTEND ITS WORK IN THIS DIRECTION DURING THE COMING YEAR, HE SAID.

TOUCHING ON THE PROGRESS MADE BY THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD SINCE ITS FORMATION IN DECEMBER 1977, MR. AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT IT HAD SPONSORED MORE THAN 20 RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SPORTS PROJECTS.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE RURAL COMMITTEE, MANY NEW VENTURES. J SUCH AS THE SAI KUNG CHILDREN'S CHOIR AND SAI KUNG DRAMA CLUB, HAVE BEEN STARTED.

+ IN ADDITION, VALUABLE ADVICE, AND CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS AND CRITICISM HAVE RESULTED FROM THE BOARD'S REGULAR MEETINGS, HE SAID.

+

THE CLOSING CEREMONY WAS JOINTLY OFFICIATED BY MR. AKERS-JONES AND MR. LAU KWUN SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE SAI KUNG RURAL COMMITTEE.

THE SIX-DAY FESTIVAL, THE FIRST EVENT OF SUCH SCALE EVER STAGED IN THE DISTRICT, AIMS TO INSTITUTE TO THE PEOPLE OF SAI KUNG A SENSE OF BELONGING AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE THE RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.

IT HAS PROVED AN INSTANT SUCCESS AS ATTENDANCE WAS VERY GOOD AT ALL THE EVENTS, INCLUDING CANTONESE OPERAS, CHINESE FOLK DANCES, ATHLETIC MEETS, PUPPET SHOWS, DRAMA PERFORMANCES AS WELL AS EXHIBITIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND PAINTINGS.

BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS

*****

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (MONDAY) DECLARED NOS. 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 AND 83 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION.

IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE SAID THE GROUP OF SIX FOUR-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDINGS HAD BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION SINCE 1966 WHEN EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO THE KITCHEN BLOCKS OF FOUR BUILDINGS HAD BEEN ORDERED.

+A RECENT INVESTIGATION HAD REVEALED THE DETERIORATION OF THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS HAD REACHED A STAGE WHERE THERE IS NOW A SERIOUS RISK OF COLLAPSE. IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THESE BUILDINGS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 A.M. ON MARCH 5 WERE POSTED TODAY, HE ADDED.