XN000022-1980-05-09 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1980

TREATY DOCUMENTS FOR COMMUNITY AND SPORTS CENTRE SIGNED

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (FRIDAY) SIGNED TREATY DOCUMENTS FOR THE GRANT OF A 4 359 SQUARE METRE SITE IN TUEN MUN TO THE YAN OI TONG TO BUILD A $32 MILLION COMMUNITY AND SPORTS CENTRE.

THE CENTRE, WITH A TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF 141 208 SQUARE METRES, WILL HAVE A ROLLER SKATING RINK, AN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL, A MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES HALL, A GYMNASIUM, A BOWLING CENTRE, A GAMES AREA, BILLIARDS AND TABLE TENNIS ROOMS, SQUASH COURTS, A RESTAURANT FOR 80 PEOPLE AND FIVE SHOPS.

OTHER FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE A LIBRARY, A MULTI-PURPOSE HALL, A GALLERY, MEETING AND STUDY ROOMS, A CRECHE AND PLAY AREA, YOUTH AND ADULT ACTIVITY ROOMS AND OFFICE SPACE.

THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB DONATED $8 MILLION AND THE LOTTERIES FUND $9 MILLION TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION COST. THE BALANCE IS EXPECTED TO BE RAISED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS AND BY THE SALE OF YAN OI TONG PROPERTY. A FUND RAISING COMMITTEE WAS RECENTLY FORMED.

A GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY IS TO TAKE PLACE LATER THIS MONTH AND CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1982.

THE YAN OI TONG IS A TUEN MUN-BASED CHARITABLE BODY FORMED MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO. IT WAS RE-CONSTITUTED LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE MEDICAL, WELFARE AND OTHER SERVICES FOR THE GROWING POPULATION OF THE NEW TOWN.

THE RECENTLY-ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE TONG, MR LAU WONG- SIGNED THE TREATY DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE TONG. THE LAND WAS GRANTED BY PRIVATE TREATY.

FAT

A NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WOULD BE SET UP WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE YAN OF TONG.

+THIS IS TO ENSURE MAXIMUM USE OF THE CENTRE'S SPORTS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND ITS EFFICIENT RUNNING, HE SAID.

OLLED

HE ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH LIMITED COMMERCIAL FACILITIES WERE BEING INCLUDED IN THE CENTRE THEY WOULD BE CLOSELY CONTROLLED AND RESTRICTED TO USES SUPPORTING THE OBJECTS OF THE CENTRE.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD DEVELOPMENT OF GENERAL OFFICE ACCOMMODATION OR COMMERCIAL SHOP SPACE BE PERMITTED AND THE BAN ON LETTING OF COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING RIGHTS WOULD BE MAINTAINED.

ALL FRANCHISES FOR THE COMMERCIAL PREMISES AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, SUCH AS THE BOWLING ALLEY, RESTAURANT AND ROLLER SKATING RINK, WOULD BE LET BY OPEN TENDER, HE SAID.

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