XN000022-1981-03-31 — Page 4

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1981

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SHA TIN COMPLEX NEAR COMPLETION

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A COMPLEX OF SWIMMING POOLS, SQUASH COURTS, TENNIS COURTS AND LANDSCAPED GARDENS ON 2.6 HECTARES OF LAND IN SHA TIN IS FAST GETTING READY FOR OPENING BEFORE THE EASTER HOLIDAY.

THE COMPLEX, LOCATED ON THE WEST BANK OF THE SHING MUN RIVER NEAR WO CHE AND LEK YUEN ESTATES, WILL BE NAMED THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL AND SQUASH COURTS, AND MANAGED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE COST OF MORE THAN $25 MILLION HAS BEEN ENTIRELY FUNDED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD SAID.

THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED BY PALMER AND TURNER IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND CONSTRUCTED BY GAMMON LIMITED.

+BUILDING STARTED IN LATE 1979 AND HAS TAKEN LESS THAN 18

MONTHS TO COMPLETE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX, WHICH IS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW TERRITORIES, COMPRISES A MAIN POOL OF STANDARD OLYMPIC SIZE FOR COMPETITIVE SWIMMING AND WATER-POLO MATCHES, A DIVING POOL, THREE ANCILLARY POOLS FOR TEACHING AND TRAINING AND A WADING POOL LOCATED OUTSIDE THE MAIN COMPLEX AREA WHICH WILL BE FREE OF CHARGE TO THE PUBLIC.

ALSO PROVIDED ARE A GRANDSTAND WITH A CAPACITY OF 800 SPECTATORS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO FACE NORTH-EAST SO AS TO AVOID GLARE FROM REFLECTION OF SUNLIGHT FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SWIMMING POOL, A SWIMMER'S DECK, AND A CANTEEN FOR REFRESHMENT.

ONE OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES IS THE ARTIFICIAL TURF FOR SUNBATHING AND RELAXATION, WITH SHADES BUILT IN SELECTED AREAS ALONGSIDE THE POOLS.

REFERRING TO THE SQUASH COURT BUILDING WITH SIX COURTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT IS THE LARGEST IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ́AND IS LIKELY TO BECOME A POPULAR VENUE FOR COMPETITION,

ALL COURTS HAVE FACILITIES FOR SPECTATORS AND TWO OF THEM HAVE GLASS REAR WALLS - THE FIRST PUBLIC COURTS OF THEIR KIND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH NOT ONLY HELP WITH COACHING AND TRAINING BUT ALSO ENHANCE VIEWING BY SPECTATORS.

THE LANDSCAPED AREA ADJACENT TO THE COMPLEX HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT IN FUTURE AS AN INDOOR HEATED SWIMMING POOL WITH SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR DISABLED SWIMMERS, THE SPOKESMAN SA ID.

+ IN THE INTER IM, THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB HAS GENEROUSLY PLANTED OUT A PUBLIC GARDEN AND CONSTRUCTED THREE TENNIS COURTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VENUE FOR A SPORT THAT IS FAST BECOMING POPULAR IN SHA TIN, THE SPOKESHAN SAID.

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