XN000022-1980-12-05 — Page 2

GOVERNOR LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR YAN OF TONG

SPORTS AND COMMUNITY CENTRE

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THE RAPID PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT IN TUEN MUN IS IMMENSELY SATISFACTORY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.

SIR MURRAY WAS OFFICIATING AT THE LAYING OF THE YAN OF TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE FOUNDATION STONE.

SIR MURRAY SAID WHERE THERE WAS ONCE ONLY THE DUST AND DIRT OF RECLAMATION NEW FACTORIES AND NEW HOUSING ESTATES WERE GROWING UP.

+ONE CAN BEGIN TO DISCERN THE PROMISE OF THE MAGNIFICIENT NEW TOWN WHICH WILL EMERGE, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

+OF COURSE, THIS ARDUOUS TRANSFORMATION FROM RURAL ENVIRONMENT TO BUSTLING CITY CANNOT BE WITHOUT ITS DIFFICULTIES.

+BUT I AM ENCOURAGED BY MY MEETING TODAY WITH LOCAL LEADERS, MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AND DIRECTORS OF THE YAN ÖJ TONG TO FIND THE EXTENT OF THEIR PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT AND COMMITMENT IN THE PROCESS OF OVERCOMING THESE DIFFICULTIES, HE SAID.

*WE SPOKE OF THE NEED TO ENSURE ENOUGH JOBS FOR THE INCOMING POPULATION, AND ALSO OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WHICH WILL MAKE LIFE PLEASANTER AND TO FORM A HAPPY AND COHESIVE COMMUNITY FROM BOTH OLD AND NEW RESIDENTS, SIR MURRAY SAID.

THESE INCLUDED THE SPORTS GROUND OPENING IN THE AUTUMN OF NEXT YEAR FOR WHICH SIR SHIU KIN TANG HAD PLEDGED A VERY GENEROUS $2 MILLION, A CIVIC CENTRE TO OPEN IN 1984 AND A TOWN PARK WHICH WOULD BE READY THE YEAR AFTER THAT.

NOR HAD THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS BEEN OVERLOOKED. NEXT YEAR WOULD SEE BOTH THE OPENING OF A POLYCLINIC AND THE START OF WORK ON A MAJOR HOSPITAL DUE FOR COMPLETION IN 1985/86. THESE PLANS ARE VERY BIG, SIR MURRAY SAID.

+THE AIM IN TUEN MUN IS FOR A BALANCE OF WORKS AND BUILDINGS PROVIDING FOR HOMES, WORK, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LEISURE, + HE SAID.

THIS YOUR GOVERNMENT WILL STRIVE TO ACHIEVE.

*BUT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS INEVITABLY PREOCCUPIED WITH THE LARGE ITEMS OF DEVELOPMENT.

+AND I LOOK TO THE COMMUNITY OF TUEN MUN IN GENERAL AND THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD IN PARTICULAR TO ENSURE THAT SMALLER ITEMS WHICH MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO THE AMENITIES OF LIFE ARE NOT OVERLOOKED.+

IN MAKING GOOD DEFICIENCIES THERE IS GREAT SCOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH PRIVATE PRESSURE AND PRIVATE CONTRIBUTION.

IT IS THIS COMBINATION OF PRIVATE ENERGY AND RESOURCE COUPLED WITH GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT AND EFFORT WHICH WILL CREATE THE FUTURE COMMUNITY OF TUEN MUN, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

/SIR URRAY