XN000022-1979-10-10 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1979

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+THE SCHEME HAS EXPANDED RAPIDLY AND A TOTAL OF 266 CLASSES ARE NOW HELD WEEKLY. SEVEN YOUTH ORCHESTRAS BOTH CHINESE AND WESTERN HAVE BEEN ORGANISED BY THIS OFFICE AND TWO OF THESE HAVE JUST COMPLETED A TOUR OF 17 CITIES IN GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE. THEY WON GOLDEN OPINIONS BOTH AS MUSICIANS AND AS AMBASSADORS FOR HONG KONG, HE SAID.

THE SECOND ITEM IS THE IMPRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE.

+FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS AT THE END OF 1974, WHEN THE SERVICE INCLUDED ONLY NINE PROFESSIONAL STAFF, IT HAS GROWN TO AN ESTABLISHMENT OF 135 PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS, AND HUNDREDS MORE PART-TIME STAFF HELP TO RUN THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMES, + SIR MURRAY SAID.

HE SAID SOME 350 000 PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY TAKE PART IN OVER 2 700 PROJECTS, RANGING FROM THE VERY POPULAR CAMPS EXCURSIONS AND OTHER OUTDOOR PURSUITS, TO FITNESS PROGRAMMES, TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL GAMES, AND INCLUDING SUCH +GROWTH+ AREAS AS DANCE, ICE-SKATING, HORSE-RIDING AND ARCHERY.

THE THIRD IS THE COUNTRY PARKS.

SIR MURRAY SAID TO MEET A VERY HEALTHY DEMAND THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY HAD COMPLETED ITS DESIGNATION PROGRAMME 18 MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, AND 21 COUNTRY PARKS HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED COVERING ALMOST 40 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL AREA.

+THIS DESIGNATION HOLDS THE LINE, AND PREVENTS ENJOYMENT OF THE ATTRACTIONS OF THESE AREAS BEING PRE-EMPTED BY DEVELOPMENT EXCEPT AFTER DEFINED PROCESSES OF CONSIDERATION, + HE SAID.

+THE AUTHORITY'S MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEING STEADILY EXPANDED SO AS TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF HOW TO PROTECT AND KEEP UNDEF ILED, AS WELL AS TO DEVELOP, BEAUTIFY, AND ENCOURAGE THE PROPER USE OF THESE GREAT AREAS, HE ADDED,

+ IF IMAGINATIVELY DEVELOPED AND PROPERLY USED AND MAINTAINED. THESE PARKS SHOULD BECOME ONE OF THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF HONG KONG,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.

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