XN000022-1979-04-14 — Page 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1979

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THROUGH THEIR ASSISTANCE AND DEDICATION, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS EXCURSIONS, BALL GAMES, ARCHERY, SKATE-BOARDING AND GYMNASTICS ARE NOW HELD REGULARLY IN THE VILLAGES.

SINCE THE SCHEME WAS LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 1977, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE ORGANISED NO LESS THAN 85 EVENTS WHICH BENEFITTED MORE THAN 13,000 VILLAGERS.

+ THE PROGRAMME WAS DESIGNED TO CATER FOR ALL TASTES, THE REGIONAL RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER (NEW TERRITORIES), MR. STANLEY LEE SAID.

FOR ADULTS AND THE ELDERLY, EXCURSIONS NOTABLY TO OCEAN PARK ARE ARRANGED WHILE A WIDE RANGE OF SPORTING ACTIVITIES ARE ORGANISED FOR THE YOUNGSTERS. COACHING LESSONS ARE ALSO HELD.

MR. LEE SAID THE SCHEME INVOLVES A LOT OF WORK ON THE PART OF THE SPORT OFFICERS.

+FOR INSTANCE, BEFORE WE CAN INTRODUCE THIS SERVICE TO ANY VILLAGE, MUCH PREPARATORY WORK, SUCH AS GETTING TO KNOW THE VILLAGERS, THE IR NEEDS, THE GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF THE COMMUNITY, MUST FIRST BE CARRIED OUT.

+AS A RESULT, MANY OF THE OFFICERS FREQUENTLY HAVE TO WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,+ MR. LEE SAID.

THE SCHEME HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY PARENTS AND SCHOOL HEADMASTERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE MADE AVAILABLE THEIR SCHOOL GROUNDS FOR RECREATION.

THE HEADMASTER OF THE NIM WAN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL IN TUEN MUN, MR. CHENG TANG-YAU DESCRIBED THE SCHEME AS BEING HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

+OUR CHILDREN HAVE LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE LONG JOURNEY AND TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES. IT IS GRATIFYING TO SEE THEM ENGAGED IN HEALTHY SPORTS DURING WEEKENDS. MORE NOTEWORTHY PERHAPS, IS THAT SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS SERVICE WE NOW HAVE LESS DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS,+ MR. CHENG SAID.

A PARENT FROM THE VILLAGE OF HA PAK NAI ALSO IN TUEN MUN. MR. CHAN KWAI, HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE SCHEME: +IF NOT FOR THE SPORT OFFICERS, MY CHILDREN WOULD ONLY HAVE ONE FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT - TELEVISION -- AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE CONTENT WITH WATCHING OTHER CHILDREN HAVING FUN. NOT ANY MORE. THEY CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE SPORT OFFICERS SO THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE ON THE IR SKATE-BOARDING.+

ENCOURAGED BY THE SUCCESS AND FAVOURABLE RESPONSE TO THE SCHEME, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE PLANS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAMME WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS.

+THIS WILL BE CARRIED OUT VERY SOON,+ NR. LEE SAID.