XN000022-1984-01-06 — Page 10

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1984

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COURT TO LOOK INTO 'OSPREY' LOSS

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A MARINE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ADVISED THIS MORNING THAT THE GOVERNOR, UNDER SECTION 52 OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE, ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF A MARINE COURT TO INVESTIGATE INTO THE LOSS OF THE +BARQUENTINE OSPREY+.

NT RECREATION FACILITIES FEES REVISED

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED AN INCREASE OF ADMISSION FEES AND HIRING CHARGES FOR PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS, INDOOR GAMES HALL, TENNIS COURTS AND SQUASH COURTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (FRIDAY).

DETAILS OF THE REVISED CHARGES UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS (NT) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1984 AND PLEASURE GROUNDS (NT) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE ARE PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE.

+THIS IS THE FIRST REVISION OF HIRING CHARGES FOR SQUASH COURTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SINCE 1977, WHILE THE LAST INCREASE IN ADMISSION AND HIRING CHARGES FOR PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS, INDOOR GAMES HALL AND TENNIS COURTS WAS IN 1980, + A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.

THE REVISION BRINGS CHARGES TO THE SAME LEVEL AS THOSE FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE URBAN AREA WHICH HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE SINCE EARLY LAST YEAR (1983), THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+ THE NEW CHARGES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT INCREASING GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS OF PROVIDING THE FACILITIES.

+HOWEVER, THERE WILL STILL BE A CONSIDERABLE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY FOR THESE RECREATION FACILITIES AS THE REVISION OF CHARGES IS EXPECTED TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL INCOME OF ONLY $3.3 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

QUOTING TWO EXAMPLES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SUBSIDY FOR THE INDOOR GAMES HALL WILL STILL BE 86 PER CENT AFTER THE INCREASE OF CHARGES, AND IT WILL BE 69 PER CENT FOR PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS.

OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, SOME $6 MILLION IS EXPECTED TO BE RECOVERED THROUGH ADMISSION FEES AND HIRING CHARGES AGAINST A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $17 MILLION. THIS REPRESENTS A DEFICIT OF $11 MILLION, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE NEW ADMISSION FEE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS OLD TO THE FOUR PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS AT KWAI CHUNG, YUEN LONG, FANLING AND SHA TIN IS INCREASED FROM $1 TO $2. AN ADULT BATHER WILL PAY $5 COMPARED WITH THE OLD RATE OF $2.

/TENNIS PLAYERS

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