XN000022-1979-03-24 — Page 6

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1979

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SUITABLE SITES FOR HOLIDAY CAMPS AND HOSTELS IN THE N.T.

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF SITES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SUITABLE FOR BUILDING YOUTH HOSTELS AND HOLIDAY CAMPS BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT ORGANISATIONS WERE WELCOME TO APPROACH THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION FOR SUCH SITES FOR A PUBLIC CAUSE.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF PHASE I OF THE PO LEUNG KUK HOLIDAY CAMP AT PAK TAM CHUNG, HE SAID AS A RESULT OF A PLANNING INVESTIGATION WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETED, ANY ORGANISATION WHICH APPLIES TO MY DEPARTMENT FOR LAND FOR THIS USE CAN NOW BE DIRECTED TO SPECIFIC AREAS AS POTENTIAL SITES, FOR HOLIDAY CAMPS AND HOSTELS.+

A WORKING GROUP - KNOWN AS THE LEISURE ACCOMMODATION SITE COMMITTEE WAS SET UP IN JUNE 1977 TO CO-ORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED SO THAT SITES FOR SUCH PURPOSES CAN BE CHOSEN AND GRANTED IN A PLANNED MANNER.

INITIALLY, THE COMMITTEE HAS FOUND 58 SITES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SUITABLE FOR TENTED CAMPING. THESE SITES ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES - 40 WITHIN AND 18 OUTSIDE COUNTRY PARK AREAS.

OF THE 40 SITES IN THE FIRST CATEGORY, 12 ARE EXPECTED TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AREAS SUITABLE FOR YOUTH HOSTELS HAVE ALSO BEEN IDENTIFIED ALONG THE COASTAL AREA OF LANTAU ISLAND, SOUTHERN SAI KUNG AND NORTHERN TAI PO.

MR. AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE PO LEUNG KUK HOLIDAY CAMP WAS BUILT IN RESPONSE TO A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR CAMPS AND HOSTELS WHERE YOUNG AND OLD, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, COULD GET AWAY FROM THE NOISES AND TENSION OF LIFE IN AN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY INTO THE QUIET OF THE COUNTRYSIDE.

+WITH GREAT FORESIGHT, THE PO LEUNG KUK HAS OBTAINED LAND FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND IN THE RECORD TIME OF LESS THAN A YEAR HAS BUILT THE FIRST STAGE OF THIS SPLENDID CAMP, HE SAID.

THE HOLIDAY CAMP OCCUPIES 4.8 HECTARES OF LAND BETWEEN TAI MONG TSAI AND THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR AT PAK TAM CHUNG AND WILL BE DEVELOPED IN THREE STAGES.

PHASE INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEVEN TWO-STOREY HOSTEL BLOCKS AND SITE FORMATION FOR THE WHOLE CAMP, INCLUDING SPORTS GROUND, CAR PARKS AND AN EMBANKMENT.

THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT IS MORE THAN $15 MILLION.

MR. AKERS-JONES PAID TRIBUTE TO THE PO LEUNG KUK FOR THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG AND SAID THAT THE CAMP WAS +A SPLENDID EXAMPLE OF ITS CONTINUED CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY.

+HOA FITTING