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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1981

SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK OFFERS PICNIC FACILITIES

FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

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A NEW PICNIC PLACE DESIGNED WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF PHYSICALLY HAND ICAPPED PEOPLE IN MIND WILL BE OPENED IN THE SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK ON FRIDAY (DECEMBER 4).

THE SITE, SITUATED NEAR THE PAK TAM CHUNG CARPARK IS PART OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS.

IT WILL BE OPENED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES MR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN WHO WILL LATER JOIN A GROUP OF CHILDREN IN AN

INAUGURAL BARBECUE.

THE LAYOUT AND THE PICNIC AND BARBECUE FACILITIES OF THE SITE ARE PROTOTYPES DESIGNED TO CATER SPECIALLY TO THE NEEDS OF THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. THE PURPOSE IS TO TEST DESIGNS FOR DISABLED PERSONS AS WELL AS PROVIDE BARBECUE FACILITIES FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND THEIR FRIENDS.

UNUSUAL FEATURES OF THE PICNIC SITE INCLUDE PAYED FOOTPATHS OF CONTROLLED GRADIENT SUITABLE FOR WHEELCHAIRS OR BLIND PEOPLE, WITH HAND RAILS WHERE NECESSARY.

PICNIC BENCHES AND BARBECUE PITS ARE CONSTRUCTED FOR USE BY PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS OR USING CRUTCHES.

A QUIET SITTING-OUT AREA IS ALSO PROVIDED WHERE PLANTS AND TREES USED IN LANDSCAPING THE SITE ARE ALL CLEARLY LABELLED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THE MOST SUITABLE OF THE DESIGNS WOULD BE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY PARKS SYSTEM IN APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS ONCE THEY HAVE PROVEN TO BE POPULAR,

KE ADDED THAT THE PAK TAM CHUNG SITE WAS THE FIRST PHASE OF A LARGE PROJECT WHICH WILL BE CARRIED OUT AS LAND BECOMES AVAILABLE.

*THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY HAS ALREADY PROVIDED SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR USE BY THE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE IN ALL PUBLIC TOILETS

INSIDE COUNTRY PARKS, HE SAID.

APART FROM THE GUESTS OF HONOUR WHICH INCLUDE DR HARRY FANG MR CHARLES YEUNG AND DR K.L. THONG, TWO GROUPS OF CHILDREN FROM THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION SCHOOL AT SAI KUNG WILL TRY OUT THE SPECIAL BARBECUE AND PICNIC FACILITIES AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING OF THE NEW PICNIC SITE IN SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK DESIGNED FOR THE USE ALSO OF PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE. TRANSPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE, AND GOVERNMENT VANS WILL LEAVE THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN KOWLOON AT 9.20 AM ON FRIDAY (DECEMBER 4).

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