XN000022-1980-08-27 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1980

HONG KONG'S TOP INDOOR SPORTS COMPLEX OPENED

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM IN OF KWAN ROAD, WAN CHÀI.

ADDRESSING A PACKED AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 3 000 DIGNITARIES AND SPORTS OFFICIALS IN THE ARENA, SIR MURRAY SAID THE STADIUM PROVIDES THE LATEST OF INDOOR FACILITIES WHERE SPORT, RECREATION AND CULTURE ARE PRACTISED AND ENJOYED TO AN EVER INCREASING EXTENT.

HE SAID THE STADIUM ALSO PROVIDES A HOME FOR THE AMATEUR SPORTS FEDERATION AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, 23 LOCAL GOVERNING SPORTS BODIES AND A CENTRAL SECRETARIAT - +A VÉRITABLE POWER-HOUSE OF SPORT+,

+BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY FACILITY. IT WAS BUILT UNDER THE IMPETUS OF THE ROYAL VISIT COMMEMORATION FUND ORGANISED TO COMMEMORATE THE QUEEN'S VISIT IN 1975. SOME OF THE DONORS ARE SEATED BEHIND ME AND I WOULD LIKE TO PAY MY TRIBUTE TO THEIR IMAGINATION AND PUBLIC SPIRIT, THE SUBSTANTIAL SUM THEY RAISED WAS THEN SUPPLEMENTED BY THE ROYAL VISIT GOLD COIN FUND, AND BY GOVERNMENT AND URBAN COUNCIL MONEY TO PROVIDE THIS BUILDING, MURRAY SAID.

SIR

SIR MURRAY COMMENTED THAT THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP WAS A NOTABLE EVENT AND THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY THAT HONG KONG PLAYED HOST TO A REIGNING MONARCH,

+ IT WAS A SINGULARLY HAPPY OCCASION CONDUCTED WITH GRACE AND GOODWILL, + SIR MURRAY NOTED.

+IN THE CITY HALL HER MAJESTY REMINDED US OF OUR TIES WITH BRITAIN, OF THE HARMONY IN WHICH WE LIVE WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND URGED US TO HOLD TO OUR VISION OF BOTH THE PROSPERITY AND ALSO THE MANY-SIDED LIFE WE ARE ENDEAVOURING TO BUILD BY THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS THAT BESET AN OVER-CROWDED CITY. THESE ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF OUR EXISTENCE, AND IT WAS RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD BE REMINDED OF THEM ON THAT OCCASION.

+ IT WAS IN ALL RESPECTS A GREAT VISIT, WORTHY OF A LASTING MONUMENT. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT THIS SHOULD BE NOT AN ARCH OR A STATUE BUT THIS BUILDING, IN WHICH OVER THE YEARS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WILL FIND HEALTH, ENJOYMENT, AND RELIEF FROM THE PRESSURES OF EVERYDAY LIFE. IN DOING SO LET THEM ALSO THINK OF THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND QUIET CONFIDENCE PERSONIFIED BY THE QUEEN THE PUBLIC SUBSCRIBED TO HONOUR IN THIS WAY, SIR MURRAY SAID.

IN HIS SPEECH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR A. DE 0. SALES, SAID THE OPENING OF THE STADIUM WAS A DISTINCT COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT.

+ IT IS THE CREATION OF ANOTHER ASSET OF FAR-REACHING SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE. IT WILL BENEFIT THE YOUTH OF HONG KONG IN MANY WAYS IF IT IS PUT TO ITS INTENDED USE JUST AS IT WILL GIVE PLEASURE TO ALL WHO COME HERE FOR THE MANY SPORTS, CULTURAL AND OTHER PROGRAMMES WHICH MAY NOW BE PUT ON UNDER PROPER AND COMFORTABLE CONDITIONS AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR, MR SALES SAID.

/+THE GOVERNMENT.