XN000022-1981-04-08 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1981

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IT IS PRECISELY THIS UNEVENNESS OF THE PROVISION OF FACILTITIES - AND NOT ONLY IN RECREATION THAT HAS LED TO THE NEW EMPHASIS ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID.

MR BRAY ALSO TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT A COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM PLAN FOR THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL SERVICES WAS BEING DRAWN UP.

+ IN THE MEANTIME WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH A MUCH MORE ROUGH AND READY WORKING PLAN IN THE FORM OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR LEISURE WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE.

+THIS PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK ON WHICH CURRENT PLANS FOR THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE BASED.+

MR BRAY ALSO LISTED THE WORK BEING DONE CONCERNING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN VARIOUS PLACES 1

* ON THE NEW TERRITORIES THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT DISCUSSIONS

BETWEEN A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND PROPOSALS ARE NOW BEING PUT FORWARD TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY ADVANCING THE TIMING IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME-

* ON MORE SPACE IN THE URBAN AREAS AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL

WORKING GROUP HAS RECENTLY CONCLUDED A SURVEY OF THE SPACE UNDERNEATH FLYOVERS - THERE ARE DOZENS OF THEM AND SOME QUITE SPACIOUS PLACES TO BE FOUND. PROPOSALS FOR A NUMBER OF THESE TO BE PUT TO RECREATIONAL USE ARE NOW COMING FORWARD-

* ON HOUSING ESTATES THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING IS AT THE

MOMENT LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES-

* THREE AVENUES FOR ENCOURAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO

PROVIDE PUBLIC RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WERE PROPOSED. SEVERAL SCHEMES ARE UNDER EXAMINATION, AND IN SOME CASES DEVELOPERS HAVE NOT WAITED FOR ANY INITIATIVE FROM US. AGREE THAT MORE CAN BE DONE HERE. MUCH IS DONE TO PROVIDE FREE OR CHEAP RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT PUBLIC EXPENSE BUT WITH INCREASING AFFLUENCE WE MUST MAKE IT EASIER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN RECREATIONAL FACILITIES TO DO SO AND

* ON THE PROMOTION OF WATER SPORTS, AGREE THAT THERE IS MORE

SPARE WATER THAN SPARE LAND BUT WATERSIDE LAND WHICH IS REQUIRED IS SCARCE. SEVERAL SCHEMES ARE BEING DEVELOPED.

HOWEVER, MR BRAY SAID THERE WERE NO PLANS AT PRESENT TO PROVIDE A SPECIALIST COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION. THE CURRENT OUTPUT OF THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, AUGMENTED BY THE EXISTING UNIVERSITY EXTRA-MURAL COURSES ARE CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

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