XN000022-1983-03-29 — Page 8

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1983

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SIR PHILIP OPENS $50-MILLION THEATRE-PARK COMPLEX

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THE $50-MILLION KO SHAN THEATRE AND KO SHAN ROAD PARK, ONE OF THE MAJOR URBAN COUNCIL ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATIONAL PROJECTS COMMISSIONED FOR PUBLIC USE DURING THE COUNCIL'S CENTENARY YEAR IN 1983, WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TODAY (TUESDAY).

IN HIS OPENING SPEECH, SIR PHILIP CITED THIS THEATRE-PARK COMPLEX AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF MAKING THE BEST USE OF HONG KONG'S LIMITED LAND RESOURCES.

HE SAID THE URBAN COUNCIL, WITH THE PROFESSIONAL HELP OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THEIR CONSULTANTS, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE TECHNICAL AND CONCEPTUAL CHALLENGES OF A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT SITE AND HAVE CREATED THIS FINE OPEN-AIR THEATRE AND PARK.+

+ANY COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY A HARD-WORKING ONE, LIVING CONSTANTLY UNDER URBAN PRESSURES, MUST HAVE FACILITIES FOR LEISURE ACTIVITIES, THE CHIEF SÉCRETARY SAID, ARE ESSENTIAL TO PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

+SUCH FACILITIES

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE DISTRICT BOARDS, AND THE PEOPLE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN PLANNING, DEVELOPING AND MANAGING THESE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.

THE RECENTLY RE-CONSTITUTED SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT +SHOULD ENABLE DISTRICT AND REGIONAL NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED MORE ACCURATELY AND CATERED FOR AS QUICKLY AS FINANCIAL RESOURCES PERMIT,+ SIR PHILIP ADDED.

ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, SAID THE THEATRE-PARK COMPLEX +IS A DÉMONSTRATION TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OF THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO A FULLER LIFE BOTH IN HEALTHY ACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND HEALTHY ACTIVE SPORTS AND RECREATION+.

+DUE TO VERY LIMITED SPACE, IN THE URBAN AREAS, HONG KONG HAS ALWAYS A TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR MORE RECREATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES, AND THIS COMPLEX WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A GREAT VARIETY OF USAGES IS MOST WELCOME, HE SAID. THE KO SHAN THEATRE, THE FIRST PURPOSE BUILT SEMI-OPEN-AIR THEATRE IN HONG KONG, COVERS AN AREA OF 2 500 SQUARE METRES.

IT IS DESIGNED AND EQUIPPED FOR THE PRESENTATION OF HIGH QUALITY CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING CANTONESE OPERA, ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS, POP AND VARIETY SHOWS, PLAYS AND DANCE PERFORMANCES.

THE THEATRE