XN000022-1983-02-25 — Page 3

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1937

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$9-MILLION PLAYGROUND OPENED IN SHA TIN

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THE NORTHERN BANK OF SHING MUN RIVER IN SHA TIN WILL BE COMPLETELY DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE MULTI-PURPOSE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TOWN.

A $9-MILLION PLAYGROUND WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC TODAY (FRIDAY), ADDING TO THE EXISTING PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX AND SQUASH COURTS AT THE RIVER BANK.

THE YUEN WO ROAD PLAYGROUND, BUILT ON 2.41 HECTARES ALONGSIDE THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL AND SQUASH COURTS, IS ANOTHER MODERN MULTI-PURPOSE RECREATIONAL FACILITY IN THE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING NEW TOWN.

IT HAS SIX TENNIS COURTS, FOUR BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL COURTS AND TWO MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, SHA TIN URBAN SERVICES OFFICER, MR IP SHING-WAI SAID AT A CEREMONY MARKING THE OPENING OF THE FACILITY.

ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE RECREATIONAL COMPLEX IS A CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND WITH MODERN PLAY EQUIPMENT OF IMAGINATIVE DESIGN, MR IP SAID.

ALL PLAY EQUIPMENT ARE INSTALLED WITH SAFETY MATTING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHILDREN USING THEM, HE ADDED.

MR IP SAID CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SHA TIN SPORTSGROUND ADJACENT TO YUEN WO PLAYGROUND IS NOW IN FULL SWING AND WILL PROBABLY BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.

THE SPORTSGROUND WILL HAVE AN EIGHT-LANE, ALL-WEATHER RUNNING TRACK, A STANDARD TURFED SOCCER PITCH ́AND COVERED STANDS FOR 2 500 PEOPLE.

HE ALSO SAID THAT A LARGE TOWN PARK WAS BEING PLANNED AND WORK WAS EXPECTED TO START VERY SOON.

WITH THESE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, THE NORTHERN BANK OF SHING MUN RIVER WILL BECOME A CENTRAL RECREATION AND SPORTS VENUE IN THE NEW TOWN, HE SAID.

MR IP AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (SOUTH REGION) OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR DAVID DOWDING, LATER PERFORMED A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY.

ALSO TAKING PART AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DONALD TSANG, THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE PROJECT MANAGER MR KENNETH KWOK, AND SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR WAI HON-LEUNG.

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