XN000022-1980-06-13 — Page 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1980

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NT WALLED VILLAGE RECEIVING FACELIFT

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THE FAMOUS WALLED VILLAGE AT KAT HING WAI, NEAR KAM TIN, IS BEING GIVEN A FACELIFT.

THE VILLAGE, WHICH DATES BACK TO THE 1 600'S, IS HOME TO THE TANG CLAN. IT IS VISITED BY THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS EACH YEAR.

YUEN LONG DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD HAS ALLOCATED $50 000 FROM ITS MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS VOTE FOR THE WORK AND THE TANG FAMILY HAS DONATED $5 000 FROM ITS CHARITABLE FUNDS.

THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROJECT HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETED.

THIS INCLUDED FILLING IN AN 80-METRE SECTION OF THE MOAT FOR REASONS OF HYGIENE. THE MOAT USED TO BE FILLED WITH STILL WATER WHICH CAUSED POLLUTION AND THE WATER WAS ALSO A BREEDING PLACE FOR MOSQUITOES.

IT ALSO INCLUDED A SITTING-OUT AREA, ON A STRIP OF CROWN LAND OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE WALL, A MUSHROOM-SHAPED PAVILION, BENCHES AND FLOWER PATCHES.

THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WORKS OFFICE, ASSISTED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT.

THE SECOND STAGE INCLUDES A FLOWER BED AND A PARKING AREA FOR TOURIST COACHES. THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER YUEN LONG, MR ALAN FUNG, SAID THE PROJECT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL PEOPLE COULD WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN NEW TERRITORIES VILLAGES.

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