XN000022-1979-11-08 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1979

CHIEF FOREST RANGER, MR C.C. LEE SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THE NEW SQUAD OF RANGERS WAS ́ESTABLISHED RECENTLY TO CLAMP DOWN ON OFFENDERS OF THE COUNTRY CODE.

HE SAID THAT WITH THE RECENT SPATE OF HILL FIRES IT WAS NECESSARY TO BRING A PLANNED PROGRAMME FORWARD TO CURB ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTRY PARKS.

THE INITIAL 16 RANGERS WERE DIVIDED IN TWO GROUPS TO PATROL THE PAT HEUNG AND TAI LAM CHUNG PLANTATIONS WHERE THE RISK OF FIRE IS GREAT.

HOWEVER, THE PATROLS WILL NOT BE CONFINED ONLY IN THE TAI LAM CHUNG COUNTRY PARK. OTHER COUNTRY PARKS IN SAI KUNG PLOVER COVE, LION ROCK, HONG KONG ISLAND AND LANTAU WILL ALSÓ BE COVERED BY THE RANGERS.

PREVIOUSLY COUNTRY PARK OFFENDERS COULD ONLY BE CHARGED BY POLICE WITH FOREST GUARDS GIVING EVIDENCE. UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, SUMMONSES ARE ISSUED BY THE RANGERS AND PROSECUTION IS HANDLED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S PROSECUTION UNIT.

QE STADIUM READY FOR USE MID-1980

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THE $43.5 MILLION QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT MORRISON HILL, WILL BE READY FOR USE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.

THE STADIUM, BEING BUILT BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, IS THE FINEST OF ITS KIND IN ASIA.

A PWD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE STADIUM WOULD BE A MAJOR SPORTING CENTRE FOR HONG KONG'S YOUNG SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN.

THE COMPLEX WILL HAVE FACILITIES FOR ALMOST EVERY INDOOR SPORT. FROM TABLE TENNIS AND BADMINTON TO ATHLETICS AND GYMNASTICS.

THE NEW STADIUM WAS ONE OF THE MANY MAJOR GOVERNMENT PROJECTS VISITED TODAY BY MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S PUBLIC WORK SUB-COMMITTEE.

ALSO ON THE VISIT WERE A NUMBER OF UMELCO MEMBERS.

THE VISIT, LED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. MR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WAS ARRANGED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

IT BEGAN WITH A VISIT TO THE DENTAL TEACHING HOSPITAL AT THE CORNER OF EASTERN STREET AND HOSPITAL ROAD IN SAI YING PUN.

THE $140 MILLION HOSPITAL IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR.

THE PARTY