THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1981
+I AM DELIGHTED TO OPEN THIS COMPLEX OF SWIMMING POOLS AND SQUASH COURTS, AND I SHOULD LIKE ESPECIALLY TO THANK THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR THE PRACTICAL CONTRIBUTION THEY ARE MAKING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHA TIN PENFOLD PARK, THE TEMPORARY SPORTS GROUND, NOW THIS MAGNIFICENT COMPLEX, AND NEXT YEAR THE JUBILEE SPORT CENTRE. ALL THESE ARE OF IMMEASURABLE VALUE TO THE PEOPLE OF SHA TIN AND BRING LIFE, LIGHT AND INTEREST TO THIS NEW TOWN. HERE, AND ELSEWHERE THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, THE JOCKEY CLUB'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO A GREAT VARIETY OF PROJECTS GIVE INVALUABLE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO YOUR GOVERNMENT'S OWN PROGRAMMES.
+THE OPENING OF THIS COMPLEX TO-DAY COINCIDES WITH A DETERMINED EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, ASSISTED BY SOME VERY GENEROUS PRIVATE DONATIONS, TO MAKE GOOD THE LACK OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. IN RECENT YEARS VE HAVE CONCENTRATED ON HOUSING AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT SEEMED KURE NECESSARY. STEPS HAVE NOW BEEN TAKEN TO BRING FORWARD AS F AS POSSIBLE PROVISION OF NEW PARKS, RECREATION GROUNDS AND OTHER COMMUNITY BUILDINGS.
+EXPENDITURE ON RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IS BEING INCREASED FROM $21 MILLION TO $98 MILLION IN THE CURRENT YEAF. HERE IN SHA TIN ALONE 7 MAJOR RECREATIONAL PROJECTS WILL START THIS YEAR.
+UNSUPERVISED RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE OF LITTLE VALUE, SO THERE ARE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS TO PROVIDE THE STAFF TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN THEM AND TO STIMULATE AND ORGANISE SO THAT THEY ARE FULLY USED. I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE SUPPORT AND STIMULUS OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, A STEADY IMPROVEMENT WILL NOW TAKE PLACE.
+A HAPPY COMMUNITY CANNOT BE BUILT FROM RELUCTANT RESIDENTS, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT PEOPLE DO NOT MERELY MOVE TO THE NEW TOWNS THROUGH LACK OF ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION= RATHER THEY SHOULD BE ATTRACTED TO THEM. THIS REQUIRES NOT ONLY GOOD COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE URBAN AREA, NOT ONLY THE MUCH HIGHER STANDARD OF HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT THAT ARE ASSURED, NOT ONLY THE SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK FOR PARENTS, BUT ALSO BETTER AND HEALTHIER OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AND INDEED AMUSEMENT, THAN IN THE CROWDED OLDER URBAN AREAS. THESE NEW TOWNS ARE BEING BUILT TO PROVIDE A BETTER LIFE. THEY ARE OUR SECOND CHANCE. WE ARE DETERMINED NOT TO MISS IT.
+ONCE AGAIN I THANK THE JOCKEY CLUB FOR HELPING THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS ENDEAVOUR AND I WISH THE PEOPLE OF SHA TIN JOY OF THIS NEW COMPLEX.+
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