XN000022-1981-10-24 — Page 7

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1981

NT INTER-DISTRICT BADMINTON LEAGUE LAUNCHED

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THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IS NEEDED TO MAKE INTER-DISTRICT TOURNAMENTS COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE LAUNCHING OF A NEW TERRITORIES BADMINTON LEAGUE AT CARMEL PAK U SECONDARY SCHOOL, TAI PO.

+TOURNAMENTS LIKE THIS ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS TO MEET IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF FRIENDLY COMPETITION, AND ARE OF GREAT VALUE IN FOSTERING A SENSE OF DISTRICT IDENTITY, HE SAID.

THE LEAGUE IS THE FIFTH TO BE ORGANISED INVOLVING ALL EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS.

THE OTHERS ARE SOCCER, BASKETBALL, TABLE-TENNIS AND VOLLEYBALL.

TENNIS, SQUASH AND SWIMMING LEAGUES ARE ALSO PLANNED.

ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS COMPETITIONS CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, MR DICKEN YUNG, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF TAI PO SPORTS CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, MR STEPHEN WONG.

AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY TEAMS FROM TAI PO AND YUEN LONG PLAYED THE FIRST MATCH OF THE LEAGUE.

MATCHES WILL BE HELD AT WEEKENDS AND ON SUNDAYS AT VARIOUS VENUES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. FINALS WILL BE PLAYED IN JANUARY.

PRISONS DEPARTMENT OFFICERS' ANNUAL DINNER

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THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT HELD ITS OFFICERS' ANNUAL DINNER IN A HOTEL IN CENTRAL YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) EVENING. IT WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 600 OFFICERS OF THE PRISON SERVICES AND THEIR PARTNERS.

DURING THE DINNER, THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR THOMAS GARNER, PRESENTED THE SO SHUI BOR+ MEMORIAL TROPHY TO ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, MR R.W.B. HIGGINBOTTOM, FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRISON OFFICERS' CLUB,

THE TROPHY WAS DONATED BY DR AND MRS J.H. YAP IN MEMORY OF MRS YAP'S BROTHER, MR SO SHUI BOR, A PRISON OFFICER WHO WAS KILLED DURING AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT IN 1958.

THE GUEST OF HONOUR WAS DR ROBERT ANDRY, A UNITED NATIONS ADVISER WHO IS HERE ON HIS THIRD VISIT TO ADVISE ON THE MAINTENANCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES IN THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT. HIS FIRST VISIT, IN 1975, RECOMMENDED THE INTRODUCTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICE AND HIS SECOND IN 1978 DEALT WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL UNIT.

DURING THE EVENING THERE WAS ALSO A PERFORMANCE OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE DANCES ARRANGED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE.

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