XN000022-1979-03-16 — Page 8

FRIDAY MARCH 16, 1979

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FIFTH COMMUNITY HALL FOR KWAI CHUNG

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A TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY LEADER, MR. CHAU HOW-CHEN, TODAY (FRIDAY) DESCRIBED THE OPENING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S SHEK YAM COMMUNITY HALL AS YET ANOTHER STRIDE FORWARD IN THE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES FOR TSUEN WAN.

AT ITS OPENING CEREMONY, MR. CHAU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD. SAID THE NEW COMMUNITY HALL WOULD CONSIDERABLY HELP MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR SUCH FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS TOWN PLANNING HAD TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEED OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE FOR BETTER RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE FACILITIES.

+ IT IS GRATIFYING TO NOTE THAT THE NEW COMMUNITY HALL, WHICH ALREADY STARTED OPERATION LAST YEAR, HAS BEEN WELL ACCEPTED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, HE SAID.

THE SHEK YAM COMMUNITY HALL IS THE FIFTH PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR KWAI CHUNG DISTRICT. THE OTHER FOUR ARE IN LEI MUK SHUE, KWAI SHING, KWAI FONG AND LAI KING ESTATES.

IN HIS WELCOMING ADDRESS, MR. CHAN SAI-TAK, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE NEW COMMUNITY HALL, SAID IT WAS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY HALL AS A FOCAL POINT FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE WITH A POPULATION OF 20,000 TO 50,000.

+THROUGH ITS VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE HELPED TO BECOME INCREASINGLY CAPABLE OF BUILDING UP A MORE INTEGRATED COMMUNITY AMONG THEMSELVES, HE SAID.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES, HE SAID, INCLUDE INTEREST GROUPS, VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAMMES AND YOUTH TRAINING COURSES.

+FACILITIES AT THE COMMUNITY HALL ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR LOAN TO LOCAL GROUPS, SCHOOLS AND ORGANISATIONS,+ HE ADDED.

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