XN000022-1982-12-05 — Page 2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1982

ALMOST $14M ALLOCATED FROM LOTTERIES FUND

FOR 3 COMMUNITY AND WELFARE PROJECTS

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NEARLY $14 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMUNITY CENTRE IN HO MAN TIN AND A TOWN HALL IN SAI KUNG AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TOY LIBRARY FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

THE ALLOCATIONS INCLUDE A GRANT OF $11.4 MILLION TO THE LUTHERAN CHURCH - HONG KONG SYNOD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMUNITY CENTRE IN HO MAN TIN AND ANOTHER GRANT OF $2 MILLION TO THE SAI KUNG TOWN HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST PHASE OF A TOWN HALL IN THE DISTRICT.

CARITAS HONG KONG WAS ALLOCATED $429 430 TO ESTABLISH ON A TWO-YEAR EXPERIMENTAL BASIS A TOY LIBRARY FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

COMMENTING ON THE COMMUNITY CENTRE PROJECT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED VENUE FOR COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE 150 000 PEOPLE LIVING IN HO MAN TIN.

THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, TO BE BUILT ON A 2 600-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF CHUNG HAU STREET AND GOOD SHEPHERD STREET, WILL INCLUDE A BUILDING TO HOUSE THE SYNOD'S HEAD OFFICE, A NURSERY, CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED AND OTHER WELFARE UNITS.

AN AUDITORIUM, WITH A CAPACITY FOR 600 TO 800 PEOPLE, WILL SERVE AS A VENUE FOR CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.

THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS $23.2 MILLION. THE SYNOD WILL CONTRIBUTE $11.8 MILLION TOWARDS THE PROJECT AND

IT HAS ALREADY RAISED $1.5 MILLION FROM THE JOCKEY CLUB. IT WILL RAISE FUNDS TO MEET THE BALANCE.

TURNING TO THE PLANNED SAI KUNG TOWN HALL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE COMPLEX WAS TO BE BUILT IN TWO PHASES ON A 4 322-SQUARE- METRE SITE FOR THE PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES

IN SAI KUNG.

THE FIRST PHASE COSTING MORE THAN $7 MILLION, WILL FEATURE A MULTI-PURPOSE AUDITORIUM AND A COMMUNITY WORKERS' OFFICE. THE TWO-STOREY AUDITORIUM, WITH A SEATING CAPACITY OF 1 000, CAN BE USED AS A CONCERT HALL OR AS A GYMNASIUM.

THE SECOND PHASE WILL FEATURE A FIVE-STOREY BUILDING HOUSING A PUBLIC LIBRARY, A NURSERY, A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, ACTIVITIES ROOMS AND OTHER FACILITIES.

THE TOWN HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, WHICH DEVELOPED THE PROJECT, IS A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION INCORPORATED IN 1981 TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND OTHER FACILITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

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