XN000022-1983-04-23 — Page 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1983

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GOVERNOR OPENS YUEN LONG PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL

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THE COMPLETION OF THE MAGNIFICENT YUEN LONG PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX, THE FOURTH PUBLIC POOL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, REFLECTED THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO PROVIDE MORE AND BETTER RECREATIONAL AND SPORTING FACILITIES FOR THE NEW TOWNS AND REMOTER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FIVE-POOL COMPLEX, BUILT AT A COST OF $40 MILLION.

YUEN LONG, LIKE OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, WAS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY, SIR EDWARD SAID, ADDING THAT UNDER CURRENT PLANS. THE POPULATION FOR YUEN LONG TOWN WOULD GROW TO 150 000 IN TEN YEARS' TIME.

+APART FROM THE PROVISION OF HOUSING, ROADS AND OTHER

NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ADEQUATE SUPPORTING FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED IN GOOD TIME TO MEET THE RISING ASPIRATIONS OF AN EXPANDING POPULATION, HE SAID.

+EARLY COMPLETION OF THE POOL WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION OF $10 MILLION FROM A DONOR WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.

+1 WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK HIM FOR HIS MOST TIMELY GIFT. HE WILL, I AM SURE, SEE HIS REWARD IN THE ENJOYMENT WHICH IT WILL GIVE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN YUEN LONG,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.

IN ANTICIPATION OF THE POOL'S OPENING, VARIOUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TRAINING CLASSES AND SWIMMING COMPETITIONS HAD BEEN PLANNED BY THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION WITH THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT.

+ IT IS ENCOURAGING TO KNOW THAT THE BOARD IS PLAYING A LEADING ROLE IN THE PROMOTION OF RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES.

+LAST YEAR NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WERE ALLOCATED BY THE BOARD TO SUPPORT SUCH ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT, HE SAID.

IN CONCLUSION, SIR EDWARD SAID,-+MAY I WISH ALL OF THE YUEN LONG RESIDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHOM I HAVE MET THIS MORNING, AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY EVERY ENJOYMENT IN MAKING USE OF THE POOL.+

EARLIER, IN HIS WELCOMING REMARKS AT THE CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, SAID THE SWIMMING COMPLEX RANKED AS ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS YET HANDED OVER TO THE NTSD FOR MANAGEMENT.

/+IT IS