XN000022-1983-12-08 — Page 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1983

SIR PHILIP LOOKS OVER PO LEUNG KUK'S WORK

****

THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE PO LEUNG KUK CENTENARY SCHOOL AND THE PAK TAM CHUNG HOLIDAY CAMP TO SEE SOME OF THE KUK'S WORK.

SIR PHILIP, ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, WAS MET ON ARRIVAL AT THE SCHOOL IN CHOI WAN ESTATE BY THE KUK'S CHAIRMAN, MR NG SHUI-CHIU, AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

SIR PHILIP THEN TOURED THE SCHOOL PREMISES AND SAW THE WORKSHOPS, CLASSROOMS AND SPECIAL ROOMS FOR VARIOUS SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

HE WAS TOLD THAT THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1978 AS A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDISED SCHOOL FOR MODERATE GRADE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN FROM SIX TO 15 YEARS OF AGE. SINCE THEN IT HAS EXPANDED TO ITS PRESENT FULL CAPACITY OF 100 PUPILS AND IS OFFERING COURSES FOR BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS.

BEFORE LEAVING, SIR PHILIP WAS PRESENTED BY A STUDENT WITH

A PIECE OF POTTERY AS A SOUVENIR.

SIR PHILIP AND MRS WONG THEN PROCEEDED TO THE PO LEUNG KUK PAK TAM CHUNG HOLIDAY CAMP IN SAI KUNG. THEY WERE GREETED BY THE DIRECTORS OF THE KUK, AND WERE BRIEFED ON VARIOUS FACILITIES OF THE CAMP WHICH IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON A BOOKING SYSTEM.

THE PARTY THEN TOURED THE CAMP TO SEE SOME OF THE FAMILY AND GROUP HOSTELS, THE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX, AND THE GYMNASIUM.

THE CAMP SITE WAS GRANTED FREE TO THE KUK, AND THE CAMP STARTED OPERATING ON A NON-PROFIT-MAKING BASIS IN 1979. IT CAN NOW ACCOMMODATE UP TO 320 OVERNIGHT CAMPERS AND 250 DAY CAMPERS AT ANY ONE TIME, EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 200 000 CAMPER-TRIPS ANNUALLY.

OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDE A ROLLER SKATING RINK, AN ARCHERY YARD, CANOES, BOATS, BICYCLES, BADMINTON COURTS AND ACTIVITY ROOMS. QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS ARE HIRED TO LEAD RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES.

A YEAR OF CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY AHEAD

****

THE YEAR 1984 FOR HONG KONG IS A YEAR OF CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY, FURTHER CHANGE AND FURTHER PROGRESS: IT IS NOT THE WORLD OF GEORGE ORWELL'S NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR+.

THIS WAS PREDICTED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, AT A LUNCHEON GATHERING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF TAI PING SHAN.

+THE WORK OF THE 10 YEARS BEFORE 1984 SET THE TASKS FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. MUCH OF THE WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN, HOW MUCH MORE THERE IS STILL TO DO,+ HE SAID.

/LOOKING BACK