XN000022-1982-02-22 — Page 9

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 158c

SAID MR RIDDELL-SWAN : +IN THE 30-0DD YEARS THAT THE SOCIETY HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE, FARMING IN HONG KONG HAS MOVED FROM A SUBSISTENCE TYPE OF OCCUPATION TO A CASH INTENSIVE BUSINESS. GENERAL LIVING CONDITIONS FOR FARMERS HAVE IMPROVED AND MANY OF THE IR SOCIAL ASPIRATIONS HAVE BEEN REALISED. +

DURING THIS PERIOD THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT AND TOGETHER THEY HAD PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.

+ IT IS NOTEWORTHY, SAID MR RIDDELL-SWAN, THAT ALL THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF STEADY LOSS OF FARM LAND TO DEVELOPMENT, AND IT IS A TRIBUTE TO LOCAL FARMING THAT DESPITE THIS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP STEADY THE PROPORTION OF LOCAL FARM PRODUCE ON THE HONG KONG MARKET DESPITE EVER INCREASING DEMAND.+

BALLET COURSES IN SHA TIN ****

THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD HAS APPROVED MORE THAN $9 000 TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR TWO LOCAL CHILDREN'S BALLET CLUBS AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF ITS RECREATION AND SPORTS SUB-COMMITTEE.

ITEMS TO BE PURCHASED INCLUDE MIRRORS AND BARS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR BALLET PRACTICE.

ONE OF THE CLUBS IS ORGANISED BY LEK YUEN ESTATE COMMUNITY HALL. IT STARTED LAST NOVEMBER AND HOLDS ONE-HOUR TRAINING SESSIONS EACH WEDNESDAY EVENING,

IT HAS PROVED SO POPULAR THAT THE NUMBER OF CLASSES HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM ONE TO THREE AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ATTENDING HAS GROWN FROM 25 TO 78. THE AGE RANGE IS FOUR YEARS TO NINE YEARS.

MISS CHIK YUEN-HAN, A STUDENT OF THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF ARTS, WHO WILL GRADUATE FROM A BALLET TEACHING CERTIFICATE COURSE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR, IS THE TUTOR.

THE OTHER COURSE IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE WO CHE CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE AND IS FOR UP TO 20 CHILDREN AGED FROM SIX TO 12.

IT WILL START NEXT MONTH AT THE PODIUM LEVEL OF WO CHE COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.

THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SUB-COMMITTEE IS ACTIVELY ORGANISING ACTIVITIES IN SHA TIN DISTRICT. IT RECEIVED $380 000 FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD FOR 1981/82.