XN000022-1982-02-24 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982

GREAT CHANGES IN NEW TERRITORIES, SAYS MACPHERSON

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GREAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN, AND ARE, TAKING PLACE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR MACPHERSON, WHO WAS SPEAKING AT A NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH OF THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB (HKLGC) PRESENTATION CEREMONY, SAID DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWNS HAD LED TO DRAMATIC INCREASES IN POPULATION.

+MOREOVER THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE HAS INCREASED AND HAS BECOME MUCH MORE MOBILE, AND MUCH MORE ADVENTUROUS IN TERMS OF RECREATIONAL NEEDS, HE SAID.

+THIS COMBINATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES HAD RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE DEMANDS BEING PLACED ON THE RESOURCES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND BODIES SUCH AS THIS CLUB, AND HAD MEANT THAT WE HAD ALL HAD TO BE ON OUR TOES IN CONSTANTLY ADAPTING TO A RAPIDLY CHANGING AND EVOLVING SCENE.

+AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE ALL BEEN CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE RECREATIONAL PURSUITS AND OUTLETS FOR THE EXPANDING POPULATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR MACPHERSON SAID,

+ IN THIS PROCESS A VERY CONSIDERABLE EMPHASIS HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE USE OF OUR WATERS FOR RECREATION.

+I AM, THEREFORE, AS REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES +1 AND HONORARY PRESIDENT OF YOUR NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH, PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CLUB HAVE EXPANDED QUICKLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MEET THE CHALLENGE WHICH FACES US.

+THE CREATION OF LIFE SAVING ORGANISATIONS, UNDER YOUR AEGIS, HAS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IN OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE CHALLENGE.

+1 AM ALSO PARTICULARLY GLAD TO NOTE THAT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF NEW TERRITORIES BASED LIFE SAVING TEAMS, AND THE CONSEQUENT MOVE AWAY FROM GUARDS BEING SENT OUT FROM THE URBAN AREAS, HE SAID.

MR MACPHERSON PAID TRIBUTE TO THE HKLGC, AND TO THE NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH IN PARTICULAR, FOR ITS STRENUOUS EFFORTS, AND ALSO TO THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED FOR THEIR SENSE OF CIVIC DUTY IN VOLUNTEERING TO MEET THIS NEED.

HE SAID MEMBERS OF THE BRANCH, BY THEIR VERY PRESENCE, REASSURED SWIMMERS AT BEACHES, AND IN SOME INSTANCES HAD MORE SPLENDID INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO WATER SAFETY.

MR MACPHERSON PRESENTED INSIGNIA TO EIGHT OFFICE BEARERS, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, MR CHAN KANG-FOUT.

/HE ALSO