XN000022-1980-03-02 — Page 5

SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 1980

EXCITING CHANGES IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER, SPEAKING AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE 'KNOW YOUR SOUTHERN DISTRICT' CAMPAIGN AT THE OCEAN PARK THIS AFTERNOON, SAID APLICHAU HAS CHANGED ALMOST BEYOND RECOGNITION AND WILL CHANGÉ EVEN MORE.

HE SAID SINCE THE TIME HE CAME TO LIVE AND WORK IN HONG KONG IN 1945, ABERDEEN HAS EMERGED FROM BEING ESSENTIALLY A FISHING PORT TO A SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY WITH AN IMPORTANT LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA AT WONG CHUK HANG.

THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN GREAT CHANGES IN ITS FISHING INDUSTRY WHICH NOW POSSESSES A MODERN AND EFFICIENT FISHING FLEET BRINGING IN OVER 30 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S CATCH.

+THE NEW HOUSING ESTATE ON APLICHAU, TOGETHER WITH YUE FAI YUEN, THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AT SHEK PAI WAN AND OTHER LARGE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WILL IN A FEW YEARS RAISE THE DISTRICT POPULATION FROM THE PRESENT 230 000 TO AROUND 350 000.

+THE OPENING OF THE NEW APLICHAU BRIDGE LATER THIS MONTH AND THE COMPLETION OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL IN JULY NEXT YEAR WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE MUCH IMPROVED COMMUNICATION WITH THE NORTH SIDE OF HONG KONG AND WITH KOWLOON, BUT ALSO AND IMPORTANTLY - ENABLE MORE LAND IN THIS PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND TO BE RELEASED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, SIR JACK SAID.

HE COMMENDED THE KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE 'KNOW YOUR SOUTHERN DISTRICT' PROJECT.

+ EARNESTLY HOPE THAT THIS SPIRIT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR, THIS DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WILL BE SUSTAINED AND DIRECTED TOWARDS A HAPPIER AND FULLER LIFE FOR ALL, HE SAID.

THE TWO-WEEK CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TODAY WAS ORGANISED BY THE CDO (SOUTHERN) IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES A SOUTHERN DISTRICT 'PAST AND PRESENT' EXHIBITION, A WATER CARNIVAL, GAMES, COMPETITIONS, VISITS AND PERFORMANCES.

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