XN000022-1980-01-06 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 1980

TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL NEARS COMPLETION

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FINAL TOUCHES ARE BEING PUT TO THE MULTI-MALLION DOLLAR TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL IN PREPARATION FOR ITS OFFICIAL OPENING BY PRINCESS ALEXANDRA EARLY NEXT MONTH,

ENGINEERS ARE NOW INSTALLING THE LAST PIECES OF EQUIPMENT FOR A MODERN STAGE LIGHTING AND SOUND SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE USED FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE SECOND TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL BEGINS ON FEBRUARY 23.

THE TOWN HALL IS THE FIRST MULTI-PURPOSE CULTURAL COMPLEX TO BE BUILT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN OCTOBER 1977, WHEN CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE TOWN HALL BEGAN, STATED THAT THE STANDARD OF AMENITIES IN URBANISED AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SHOULD BE COMPARABLE TO THOSE IN THE OLD URBAN AREAS OF HONG KONG,

HE SAID HE ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF TOWN HALLS AND AUDITORIA IN THE NEW TOWNS AS A FOCUS OF LOCAL INTEREST AND ACTIVITY.

THE $25 MILLION TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL IS CONSTRUCTED ON A 5 872 SQUARE-METRE SITE NEXT TO THE TSUEN WAN MAGISTRACY BUILDING AND IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEAR THE BUS TERMINUS AND FERRY PIER.

THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB DONATED $10 MILLION TOWARDS THE CAPITAL COST OF THE PROJECT AND THE REST MET BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE MAIN FEATURE OF THE BUILDING IS A 1 500 SEAT AUDITORIUM WHICH IS SIMILAR IN DESIGN TO THE CONCERT HALL OF THE CITY HALL, BUT WITH MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE IT MORE SUITABLE FOR CHINESE OPERA PERFORMANCES. THE THREE-STOREY HALL WILL SERVE AS AN IDEAL VENUE FOR CONCERTS, DRAMA AND DANCE PERFORMANCES.

THE MAIN STAGE COVERS AN AREA OF 186 SQUARE METRES WITH AREAS FOR SIDE AND BACK STAGES TOTALLING 233 SQUARE METRES. THE ORCHESTRA PIT MEASURES 75 SQUARE METRES WITH ROOM FOR UP TO 50 MUSICIANS, ANOTHER 100 PLAYERS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED ON STAGE.

APART FROM WORKING SPACE AND OFFICES FOR PRODUCTION TEAMS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, THERE WILL BE SIX DRESSING ROOMS AND TWO REHEARSAL ROOMS IN THE AUDITORIUM.

THE CONCERT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE TO PERFORMING ARTISTS INCLUDE A STEINWAY GRAND PIANO AND A MEDIUM-SIZED +GRAND+. THE LIONS CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES HAS DONATED $30 000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE LATTER INSTRUMENT.

THE BACK STAGE AREA ALSO HOUSES A LECTURE ROOM AND CONFERENCE ROOM FOR HOLDING CLASSES AND MEETINGS.

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