XN000022-1980-05-23 — Page 10

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1980

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GROUND BREAKING FOR COMMUNITY AND SPORTS CENTRE IN TUEN MUN

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OUR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS HAS BROUGHT WITH IT INCREASED LEISURE AND HEIGHTENED EXPECTATIONS, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT A GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY

FOR A COMMUNITY AND SPORTS CENTRE IN TUEN MUN.

THE CENTRE IS A $32 MILLION PROJECT BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE YAN OI TONG, A LOCALLY BASED CHARITABLE ORGANISATION.

DESCRIBING THE PROJECT AS +MOST WORTHWHILE+, MR AKERS-JONES SAID ITS FACILITIES WHEN COMPLETED IN TWO YEARS' TIME WOULD ENSURE THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF TUEN MUN HAD AN OUTLET TO REFRESH THE IR BODIES AND MINDS.

THE CENTRE WOULD BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, BRINGING UNDER ONE ROOF ACTIVITIES FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF TUEN MUN TO MAKE USE OF AND ENJOY.

+THE YAN OF TONG, WHICH HAS BEEN SERVING THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS, HAS ONCE MORE REALIZED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY IN SPONSORING THIS PROJECT, WHICH WILL COME INTO USE AT A TIME WHEN THE NEW TOWN POPULATION WILL BE VASTLY INCREASED AND WHEN FACILITIES OF THIS KIND WILL BE MOST NEEDED,+ MR AKERS-JONES SAID.

THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB HAS DONATED $8 MILLION TOWARDS THE COST AND THE LOTTERIES FUND $9 MILLION. THE BALANCE IS EXPECTED TO BE RAISED BY THE SALE OF TONG PROPERTY AND BY PRIVATE DONATIONS.

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

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

THE 4 359 SQUARE METRE SITE ON WHICH THE CENTRE IS TO BE BUILT WAS GRANTED TO THE YAN OI TONG BY PRIVATE TREATY.

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