XN000022-1982-04-07 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1982

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CO-OPERATION BRINGS BETTER LIFE FOR VILLAGERS

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THE EXTENSION OF THE SAI WAN C.A.R.E. VILLAGE ON CHEUNG CHAU HAS VIVIDLY DEMONSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE OF CO-OPERATION AND SELF-HELP WITHIN A COMMUNITY, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RICKY FUNG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, HE SAID THE JOINT EFFORTS AND DETERMINATION OF THE VILLAGERS HAD ENABLED THE IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

LOCATED AT THE WESTERN TIP OF CHEUNG CHAU, THE VILLAGE WAS FIRST BUILT IN 1968 WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE CO-OPERATIVE FOR AMERICAN RELIEF EVERYWHERE (C.A.R.E.) AND A LOCAL PHILANTHROPIST TO ACCOMMODATE MORE THAN 300 FISHERMEN IN 50 SINGLE-STOREY HOUSES.

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF ESTABLISHING THE C.A.R.E. VILLAGE WAS TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS AND TO BRING PROSPERITY AND CONTENTMENT TO ITS INHABITANTS.

HOWEVER, THE HOUSES HAD BECOME OVERCROWDED OVER THE YEARS AS THE ORIGINAL POPULATION HAD GONE UP TO NEARLY 500, AND ADDITIONAL STOREYS WERE NEEDED FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

AS A RESULT, FAMILIES IN THE VILLAGE CONTRIBUTED $35 000 EACH TOWARDS THE EXTENSION PROJECT, WITH THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE PROVIDING WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLY INSTALLATIONS, AND IMPROVING ACCESS ROADS, FOOTPATHS, RETAINING WALLS AND THE

DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

MR FUNG SAID THIS SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION DESERVED TO BE ENCOURAGED.

ALSO OFFICIATING AT TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE: THE DIRECTOR OF CHEUNG CHAU SAI WAN DWELLERS' DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, MR YIU KAI-HANG THE CHAIRMAN OF CHEUNG CHAU RURAL COMMITTEE, MR KWONG PING-YAU- AND ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS MR FUNG CHI-KANG AND MR WONG WAI-KWAN.

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