XN000022-1982-08-31 — Page 4

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1982

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INCREASE IN CAPITATION GRANT FOR AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS

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CAPITATION GRANT FOR AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL BE RAISED FROM $50 TO $80 PER PUPIL PER ANNUM FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

HE SAID THE INCREASE, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE 1981 WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRIMARY SERVICES, WAS INTENDED TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO PAY VISITS TO PLACES OF EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS SUCH AS THE OCEAN PARK, COUNTRY PARKS AND THE SPACE MUSEUM, AND TO TAKE PART IN SPORTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.

+THE INCREASE IS ALSO INTENDED TO COVER THE SCHOOLS' EXPENSES IN RAISING THE LEVEL OF CONSUMABLES AND BASIC TEACHING MATERIALS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE NEW CURRICULUM, INCLUDING REVISED SYLLABUSES FOR ENGLISH, SOCIAL STUDIES, HEALTH EDUCATION AND MATHEMATICS, AND TO MEET ADDITIONAL ELECTRICITY CHARGE RESULTING FROM EXTENDING THE USE OF AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SHA TIN TOWN PARK ***

THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL SOON BE INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHA TIN TOWN PARK.

THE SITE, MORE THAN NINE HECTARES IN AREA, LIES ALONG THE NORTH BANK OF THE SHING MUN RIVER, DOWNSTREAM FROM THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE PARK WOULD BE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE TOWN, BETWEEN THE TOWN CENTRE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE RIVER.

THE MAIN FEATURE OF THE PARK WILL BE A PAVED PLAZA WITH FOUNTAINS, AN OPEN-AIR BANDSTAND THEATRE COVERED BY AN AWNING, AND FLOWERING TREES TO PROVIDE SHADE.

+A CONTINUOUS PROMENADE AND A CYCLE TRACK WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED ALONG THE 800-METRE RIVER BARK WHICH WILL BE SHADED BY BANYAN TREES. THEY WILL FORM PART OF AN EXTENSIVE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE TOWN, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

*STEPS AND RAMPS WILL GIVE PEDESTRIANS ACCESS TO THE HIGHER LEVEL OF THE PARK, AND TO THE CAFES AND TEA TERRACES OVERLOOKING THE RIVER.+

OTHER FEATURES WILL INCLUDE A LARGE ARTIFICIAL HILL AND WATERFALL, A TROPICAL GARDEN, PLAY AREAS, POOLS, PONDS AND FOUNTAINS, BOULEVARDS, WALLED FLOWER GARDENS, PAVILIONS AND EXTENSIVE AREAS FOR TREE AND SHRUB PLANTING.

+STUDIES ARE BEING UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PLANTING AREAS IN THE PARK CAN BE AUTOMATICALLY IRRIGATED WITH RE-CYCLED WATER FROM THE NEW SHA TIN SEWAGE WORKS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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