XN000022-1983-07-09 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, JULI 9, 1983

+BEFORE THE PATH WAS BUILT, JOGGERS, RUNNERS AND WALKERS IN TSUEN WAN HAD TO BRAVE HAZARDS FACED BY ÚS JOGGERS ELSEWHERE IN HONG KONG, SUCH AS DISCONTINUOUS TRACKS, UNEVEN SURFACES AND FEW RESTING PLACES, HE SAID.

+THESE THINGS DO RATHER SPOIL THE ENJOYMENT DISCOURAGE POTENTIAL CHAMPIONS FROM TRYING IT Out.

AND MAY EVEN

+AS WE ALL UNDERSTAND, JOGGING TRAILS HAVE TO TAKE THEIR TURN FOR FUNDS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, AND WHEN FUNDS ARE TIGHT, I AM AFRAID THEY ARE REGARDED AS NOT IMMEDIATELY NECESSARY AND DO' NOT GET PRIORITY, HE ADDED,

MR SCOTT SAID THE COMPLETION OF THE FU YUNG PATH GAVE HIM PLEASURE IN THREE CAPACITIES.

+AS SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, I AM VERY GLAD TO SEE PEOPLE USING THEIR FEET- AS PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, I HOPE TO SEE JOGGERS PERSEVERE AND DEVELOP INTO RUNNERS- AND AS A MODEST JOGGER MYSELF I WELCOME THE NEW FACILITY ON BEHALF OF THE JOGGING COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, SAID TSUEN WAN WAS AN OVERCROWDED INDUSTRIAL NEW TOWN WHERE THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING HARD TO REMEDY PLANNING DEFICIENCIES OF THE PAST ON THE ONE HAND AND TO MEET RISING EXPECTATIONS ON THE OTHER.

+I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST JOGGING PATH OF ANY SIZEABLE LENGTH COMPLETED BY A DISTRICT BOARD, SHE SAID.

LAST YEAR, THE BOARD HAD FINANCED THE BUILDING OF AN INDOOR FITNESS CENTRE AND MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES HALL AT MEI WAN STREET, AND A SPORTS CENTRE AT CHEUNG HONG ESTATE ON TSING YI.

+WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH THE HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) TOWARDS THE IDEA OF AN OUTDOOR EXERCISE TRAINING CAMP IN THE NORTHERN HILLS OF TSUEN WAN, SHE ADDED.

PRIOR TO THE OPENING CEREMONY, ABOUT 200 JOGGERS TOOK PART IN A COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.

ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE THE BOARD'S RECREATION AND SPORTS COMMITTEE, MR CHAU HOW-CHEN GENERAL MANAGER OF TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED, MR ROBERT CHAN THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNERS-UP AND MISS FRIENDSHIP OF THIS YEAR'S MISS HONG KONG CONTEST AND MR AND MISS VITALITY.

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