XN000022-1980-05-17 — Page 8

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1980

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HE SAID THAT THE FOOTBRIDGE NEAR GILMAN STREET AND THE REMAINING FIVE ESCALATORS, BEING INSTALLED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE OF THE PWD, WOULD BE READY IN JULY, WHILE ANOTHER BRIDGE LINKING THE MAIN WALKWAY TO A FERRY PIER IN PIER ROAD WOULD BE COMPLETED TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.

WITH THE OPENING OF THE ELEVATED WALKWAY, THE TWO GROUND LEVEL PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS AT CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL IN FRONT OF HANG SENG BANK BUILDING AND FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED LATER THIS MONTH TO IMPROVE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE SCHEME HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION IS BEING SUPERVISED BY CONSULTING ENGINEERS, MESSRS PALMER AND TURNER, ON BEHALF OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE PWD.

DESERTED BUILDINGS TURNED INTO RECREATION CENTRE

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TWO DESERTED CONSTRUCTION COMPANY BUILDINGS AT TAI SHUI HANG, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOLO HARBOUR FROM THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO AN OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND CAMPING CENTRE.

THE BUILDINGS ARE ON A SITE WHICH WAS VACATED WHEN A ROAD PROJECT IN THE AREA WAS COMPLETED TWO YEARS AGO.

THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD SAW THE POTENTIAL OF THE SITE AS AN OUTLET FOR THE GROWING NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND ARRANGED FOR IT TO BE CONVERTED TO RECREATIONAL USE.

BAGS.

THE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO HOSTELS.

RESIDENTS OF SHA TIN HAVE DONATED BEDS, CHAIRS AND SLEEPING

THE CENTRE, WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE 50 PEOPLE AT A TIME, IS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH SIX CANDES AND 25 TENTS.

LAST FINANCIAL YEAR THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD ALLOCATED $13 000 TO THE PROJECT AND HAS INCREASED THIS FIGURE TO $25 000 FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

THE SUM IS TO COVER THE COST OF EMPLOYING A FULL-TIME WARDEN, OF BUILDING A CANOE SHELTER AND MAINTAINING THE BUILDINGS.

THE CENTRE IS OPERATED BY THE SHA TIN CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE WHOSE DIRECTOR, MR CHEUNG TSE-YUEN, SAID THAT THE SITE WOULD BE USED FOR ABOUT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS UNTIL THE AREA WAS REQUIRED TO BE HANDED OVER FOR NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT. APPLICATIONS TO ATTEND CAMPS ARE MADE TO THE CENTRE'S OFFICE WHICH IS IN LEK YUEN ESTATE.

THE CAMPSITE IS POPULAR WITH CHILDREN FROM SHA TIN AND IS USED MOST WEEK-ENDS. THE WARDEN IS A QUALIFIED CANOEING INSTRUCTOR AND VOLUNTEER LIFEGUARDS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

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