XN000022-1981-06-14 — Page 6

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 1981

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NT INTER-DISTRICT TABLE-TENNIS LEAGUE LAUNCHED

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THE ORGANISATION OF INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS TOURNAMENTS HAS CONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL TOWARDS THE MAXIMISATION OF USAGE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

MR AKERS-JONES, WHO WAS OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF A NEW TERRITORIES TABLE-TENNIS LEAGUE AT FUNG KA! MIDDLE SCHOOL, SHEUNG SHUI, SAID THE OUTLOOK FOR PROVIDING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES SEEMED MUCH GREATER AND MANY NEW FACILITIES WOULD OPEN.

+BUT, WHEREVER WE TURN, THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO BE DONE. WE CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH, AND TODAY'S TOURNAMENT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS CONTINUING NEED TO EXPAND OUR WORK, HE SAID.

IMPROVEMENT TO AND INCREASE IN FACILITIES WOULD FACILITATE THE WORK OF THE ORGANISERS OF SPORTS AND PROVIDE NEW IMPETUS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE ADDED.

THE TABLE-TENNIS LEAGUE IS THE THIRD TO BE PROMOTED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS COMPETITION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE AND OTHER LEAGUES BEING PLANNED INCLUDE_VOLLEYBALL, BADMINTON AND TENNIS, WHICH IT IS HOPED WILL START LATER THIS YEAR.

A SOCCER LEAGUE, STARTED LAST DECEMBER, WAS COMPLETED RECENTLY WITH SAI KUNG THE WINNERS. A BASKETBALL LEAGUE WHICH BEGAN IN FEBRUARY WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NEXT MONTH WHEN FINALS WILL BE PLAYED.

AT TODAY'S CEREMONY, TEAMS FROM ALL EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS WERE PRESENT. AFTER THE OPENING NORTH DISTRICT AND TSUEN WAN PLAYED THE FIRST MATCH OF THE LEAGUE.

MATCHES WILL BE HELD EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT DIFFERENT VENUES IN THE NEW TERRITOR JES.

FINALS WILL BE PLAYED IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

MR AKERS-JONES THANKED NORTH DISTRICT SPORTS CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR ORGANISING THE TOURNAMENT.

ALSO PRESENT AT THE OPENING WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NE TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS COMPETITION COORDINATING COMMITTEE, MR DICKEN YUNG, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TABLE-TENNIS LEAGUE COMMITTEE, MR CHONG KAM-NING.

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