XN000022-1983-03-17 — Page 5

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983

SIR PHILIP LOOKS OVER TAI PO SPORTS CENTRE

****

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE IN TAI PO WHICH WILL BE READY LATER THIS MONTH.

HE WAS IMPRESSED WITH ITS VARIOUS FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDE AN INDOOR SPORTS HALL CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING UP TO NINE BADMINTON COURTS, AN AIR-CONDITIONED AND FULLY-EQUIPPED DANCE STUDIO, AN AIR-CONDITIONED FITNESS CENTRE WITH THE LATEST EQUIPMENT, À 24-LANE BOWLING ALLEY, AND SAUNA FACILITIES.

THE SPORTS HALL WILL ALSO CATER FOR BASKETBALL AND VOLLEY BALL MATCHES.

THE SPORTS CENTRE IS BEING BUILT WITH $14 MILLION RAISED BY THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION A NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATION FORMED IN 1980 UNDER THE ACTIVE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO PROMOTE SPORTS AND RECREATION IN THE DISTRICT.

THE 2 700 SQUARE-METRE SPORTS CENTRE SITE IN CENTRAL TAI PO WAS GRANTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO THE ASSOCIATION TWO YEARS AGO AT NIL PREMIUM.

SIR PHILIP ALSO INSPECTED OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND FACILITIES IN TAI PO TO UPDATE HIMSELF SINCE HIS LAST VISIT TO THE DISTRICT IN MID-1981.

HE FLEW TO THE NEW TOWN BY HELICOPTER AND WAS MET BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NICKY LO.

THE PARTY FIRST CALLED AT THE SHUEN WAN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA NOW BEING OCCUPIED BY SOME 2 800 FORMER FIRE VICTIMS.

SIR PHILIP WAS BRIEFED BY MR LO AND A CHIEF HOUSING MANAGER, MR SIT DOK-SHUEN ON THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT, FACILITIES WITHIN THE THA AND OTHER SUPPORTING DISTRICT FACILITIES.

FOLLOWING A DECISION EARLY LAST YEAR TO BUILD THIS THA FOR FIRE VICTIMS, THE TAI PO DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FORMED A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER TO CO-ORDINATE THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT.

THE PURPOSE WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE THA COULD BE BUILT QUICKLY, THAT IT WOULD INCLUDE THE NECESSARY COMMUNITY FACILITIES AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO MINIMISE THE TRAVELLING PROBLEM.

SIR PHILIP LATER VISITED THE INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE AND THEN THE NEW KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY STATION WHICH WILL BE OPENED FOR USE BY DIESEL TRAINS BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. ELECTRIC TRAIN SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED TO TAI PO AS FROM MAY 2.

/HE WAS