12
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 1983.
1983.
STAR-WATCHING FROM COUNTRY PARK
****
IN THE MIDST OF THE WOODS AND WILD FLORA IN THE SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK, A SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL-LOOKING STRUCTURE STANDS OUT.
IT RESEMBLES A TWIN TOWER WITH STEPS ON BOTH SIDES LEADING TO A PLATFORM AND IS USED FOR WATCHING THE STARS.
BUILT BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE STRUCTURE IS MODELLED AFTER A SIMILAR BUILDING DESIGNED ABOUT 650 YEARS AGO BY CHINESE ASTRONOMER GUO SHOUJING (1231-1316) DURING THE EARLY YUAN DYNASTY. THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE IS SAID TO BE STILL IN THE DENG-FENG COUNTY IN HENAN PROVINCE.
THE PLATFORM OF THE HONG KONG STRUCTURE IS SITUATED IN THE SHUI LONG WO DISTRICT OF THE SAI KUNG WEST COUNTRY PARK. IT STANDS SIX METRES ABOVE THE GROUND, THREE METRES SHORTER THAN THE CHINESE ORIGINAL,
THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS USED TO OBSERVE SHADOWS CAST BY THE SUN TO DETERMINE THE DURATION OF A TROPICAL YEAR, AND WAS THUS ALS KNOWN AS A SHADOW OBSERVATION PLATFORM+.
ON A CLEAR. SUNNY DAY MANY A WOULD-BE ASTRONOMER FROM THE RANKS OF THE VISITORS TO THE PARK IN HONG KONG MAY BE SEEN STANDING ON TOP OF THE TOWER PLATFORM WATCHING THE STARS.
TENNIS COURSES FOR CHILDREN *****
CHILDREN BETWEEN EIGHT AND 14 YEARS OF AGE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TO PLAY TENNIS ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS.
A 'LEARN TO PLAY TENNIS' COURSE, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE (RSS) OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, THE HONG KONG TENNIS ASSOCIATION AND THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, WILL BE HELD FROM MAY 14 TO MAY 29.
TWO-HOUR CLASSES OF 12 PLAYERS WILL BE HELD AT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE IN SHA TIN.
THERE WILL BE FOUR DIFFERENT GROUPS PLAYING AT AM, 11 AM, 2 PM AND 4 PM. EACH GROUP WILL CONSIST OF THREE CLASSES.
APPLICATION
THE PROGRAMME FEE FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE IS $20. ENROLMENT IS ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS. FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE RSS HEADQUARTERS AND ITS 19 DISTRICT OFFICES, THE HONG KONG TENNIS ASSOCIATION AND THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE AT 5-458511, 5-741546 OR 0-6051212.
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