XN000022-1983-08-10 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1983

A NUMBER OF THESE FACILITIES HAD BEEN SO DESIGNED THAT THEY COULD BE ENJOYED BY THE HANDICAPPED AND THE ABLE-BODIED ALIKE.

DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID CAMPING WAS BECOMING AN INCREASING POPULAR RECREATION AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND 31 PERMANENT CAMP SITES COMPLETE WITH TOILETS, AND IN SOME CASES SHOWERS, AND PICNIC FACILITIES WERE SITUATED IN SUITABLE AREAS WITHIN THE PARKS.

TO CATER FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN HILL-WALKING, THERE WAS A NETWORK OF 130 KILOMETRES OF FOOTPATHS, MOSTLY WAY-POSTED AND INCLUDING THE POPULAR MACLEHOSE TRAIL. THERE WERE ALSO NATURE TRAILS. EDUCATIONAL WALKS, FITNESS TRAILS AND JOGGING TRAILS PROVIDED FOR VISITORS WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS.

SOME 2 000 YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE PART IN FORESTRY WORK CAMPS ORGANISED EACH YEAR BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AT THESE CAMPS THE YOUNG PEOPLE SPEND A WEEK OR SO ENJOYING THE COUNTRYSIDE WHILE LEARNING ABOUT IT AND CONTRIBUTING TO ITS CARE.

ON THE FUTURE, DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID, THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL FACILITIES IN COUNTRY PARKS IS A CONTINUING, ONGOING PROCEDURE AND ON THIS, I RECEIVE VALUABLE ADVICE FROM THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD.+

HE SAID 21 NEW RANGER POSTS, THREE LARGE PUBLIC TOILETS TWO OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND THE FIRST MAJOR PURPOSE BUILT VISITOR CENTRE WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

ADDITIONAL CAMP SITES, PICNIC PLACES, BARBECUE PITS AND PLAY FACILITIES WERE BEING PROVIDED AND EXISTING WORN-OUT AREAS AND OVER-USED FACILITIES WERE BEING REGULARLY REDEVELOPED AND REFURBISHED.

DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID TWO LONG DISTANCE HIKING TRAILS AROUND HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE OTHER AROUND LANTAU ISLAND AT AN ADVANCED STAGE OF PLANNING.

ONE

WERE

HE ADDED THAT CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN, TOGETHER WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPECIAL CYCLING TRACKS AND DISCUSSION WAS BEING HELD WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB ABOUT PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR HORSE RIDING.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT OVER THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, FOUR NEW VISITOR CENTRES WILL BE PROVIDED AND BASIC RECREATIONAL FACILITIES INTRODUCED TO TWO NEW AREAS AT MA ON SHAN AND NORTHERN TAI LAM CHUNG, SAID DR RIDDELL-SWAN.

DETAILS OF ALL FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTRY PARKS ARE PROVIDED IN A WIDE SELECTION OF LEAFLETS OBTAINABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES OUTLETS AND FROM THE VISITOR CENTRES AND RANGER POSTS IN THE COUNTRY PARKS.

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