XN000022-1980-01-19 — Page 5

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1980

SNT OPENS SAILING CENTRE EXTENSION

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES. MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) HE HOPED THAT VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS WHICH NOW HAD THE USE OF THE TAI MEI TUK HEADLAND TO DEVELOP WATER SPORTS WOULD MAKE AN EARLY START FOR WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS EXCEPTIONAL SITE.+

MR AKERS-JONES WAS OPENING THE EXTENSION OF HONG KONG SCHOOLS SAILING ASSOCIATION'S SAILING CENTRE AT TAI MEI TUK.

HE SAID HONG KONG HAD MILES OF RUGGED COASTLINE AND WIDE STRETCHES OF WATER. UNTIL RECENTLY USE OF BOATS AND THE SEA FOR RECREATION WAS LARGELY RESTRICTED TO A FEW NOW MORE AND MORE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAD DISCOVERED THE PLEASURE OF SAILING AND CANOEING AND CENTRES SUCH AS THIS PROVIDED EXCELLENT FACILITIES FOR THEM.

DESCRIBING THE CENTRE AS AN EXCITING PROSPECT+, MR AKERS-JONES SAID IN TIME TO COME HE HOPED THE WHOLE OF THE SHELTERED STRETCH OF WATER AND ITS ADJOINING COAST WOULD BE DEVELOPED FOR RECREATION AT SEA.

+YOU WILL BE INTERESTED TO LEARN THAT PLANS ARE ALSO IN HAND FOR A SIMILAR SEA ACTIVITIES CENTRE NEXT DOOR TO OUR OTHER LARGE RESERVOIR AT HIGH ISLAND, HE SAID.

HE SAID TO ENSURE FULL USE OF THE AREA THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE WAS ALREADY CONSTRUCTING A MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING FOR STORAGE OF BOATS AND CHANGING AND OTHER FACILITIES WITH AN ALLOCATION OF $1.5 MILLION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S SPECIAL FUND FOR RECREATION. A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HAD ALSO BEEN FORMED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT,

THE ASSOCIATION'S CENTRE AT TAI MEI TUK WAS OPENED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IN APRIL, 1976. AN EXTENSION WAS AGREED LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF RAPID GROWTH OF THE ASSOCIATION. FUNDS FOR THE $110 000 PROJECT WERE ALLOCATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE EXTENSION, WHICH MR AKERS-JONES OPENED BY SAILING UNDER A RIBBON IN A DINGHY, HAS A LECTURE ROOM, A WORKSHOP, STORAGE SPACE AND A STAFF DORMITORY.

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