XN000022-1980-11-09 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1980

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TO HELP THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED TO USE THE POOLS, A RAMP WILL BE BUILT AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE COMPLEX.

SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN THE CHANGING ROOMS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

+WORK ON THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT YEAR AND IT IS HOPED THAT THE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX WILL BE OPENED NEXT SUMMER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

COSTING MORE THAN $25 MILLION, THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES A SINGLE-STOREY BUILDING HOUSING SIX SQUASH COURTS AND A CAR PARK FOR ABOUT 40 CARS. IT IS FINANCED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AND WILL BE MANAGED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SECOND STAGE OF THE PROJECT WOULD

INCLUDE A STANDARD SIZE HEATED POOL AND A CHILDREN'S POOL.

IN THE MEANTIME, PEOPLE IN SHA TIN, TAI PO AND NORTH NEW TERRITORIES ARE URGED TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE FANLING SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS A HEATED POOL IN THIS COMPLEX WHICH WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY NEXT YEAR.

+ IT WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1 AND MARCH 31 FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES.

+THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE SWIMMING POOL IS CLOSED TEMPORARILY SINCE IT OPENED IN OCTOBER, 1978, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES IMPROVED ON ISLANDS

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CONSULTING HOURS FOR GENERAL OUT-PATIENTS AT PENG CHAU CLINIC HAVE BEEN EXTENDED FOLLOWING THE POSTING RECENTLY OF THE FOURTH MEDICAL OFFICER TO THE ISLAND.

THE CLINIC, WHICH ALSO SERVES CHEUNG CHAU, WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM ON SATURDAYS.

PREVIOUSLY IT ONLY OPENED IN THE MORNINGS FOR FOUR HOURS.

A NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF MEDICAL FACILITIES IN ISLANDS DISTRICT WAS DISCUSSED AT A DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 22.

LOCAL LEADERS HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN ON THIS MATTER, AS A RESULT OF WHICH AN OFFICER OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS INVITED TO EXCHANGE VIEWS.

+THE POSTING OF AN ADDITIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER TO THE PENG CHAU CLINIC AND THE RESULTING EXTENSION OF CONSULTING HOURS WERE A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS DISCUSSION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO MEDICAL SERVICES ON LAMMA ISLAND WERE ALSO BEING PLANNED FOR 1981.

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