XN000022-1984-12-09 — Page 8

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1984

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+AND WORK IS ALREADY PROCEEDING ON A FURTHER EXTENSION OF THE TOWN, NORTHWARDS TO MA ON SHAN, WHERE THE FIRST HOUSING ESTATE IS BEING BUILT TO CARRY THE POPULATION UPWARDS TO OVER 700 000.

+TO THE MANY FACILITIES PROVIDED AND PLANNED FOR SHA TIN IS ADDED A MAJOR SHOPPING FACILITY - THE YAOHAN DEPARTMENT STORE.

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+I SHOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM AND THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD FOR ORGANISING FIREWORKS DISPLAY AND WISH THEM - AND YOU ALL THE COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON.+

IMPORTANT TASK FOR THIS GENERATION

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW POLITICAL STRUCTURE FOR HONG KONG WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK FOR THIS GENERATION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS AND BEYOND, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

+THIS IS A TASK WHICH REQUIRES ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS GENERATION TO UNDERTAKE IN THE SAME SORT OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT, UNITY OF PURPOSE, STRENGTH OF COMMITMENT, DETERMINATION AND CIVIC PRIDE WHICH IS EVIDENT IN THE TA CHIU CELEBRATIONS, + HE SAID.

MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE HA TSUEN TEN YEARS TA CHIU CELEBRATIONS IN YUEN LONG.

+THE HA TSUEN TA CHIU HAS A HISTORY OF OVER TWO CENTURIES- ITS CELEBRATION GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK BACK OVER THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST, AND TO REMIND THIS GENERATION TO REFLECT ON THE CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES WHICH HAVE MADE OUR COMMUNITY STABLE AND PROSPEROUS, MR AKERS-JONES SAID.

+DURING THE TA CHIU, VILLAGERS OF THE 'HEUNG' RE-AFFIRM THE IR FRIENDSHIP, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND COMMUNITY TIES IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, HE SAID.

+AND WHILE THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE HAS DECLINED, A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE 'HEUNG' OPENS AND THERE ARE PROJECTS UNDER WAY WHICH WILL BRING ABOUT MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS AND BENEFITS TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA.

+WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED THIS YEAR ON A NEW TOWN AT TIN SHUI WAI, AND WORK WILL START NEXT YEAR ON A NEW REGIONAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM, THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT, HE SAID.

PROGRAMMES FOR THE WEEK-LONG HA TSUEN TEN YEARS' TA CHIU INCLUDE RELIGIOUS RITES, STORY TELLING, CANTONESE OPERA, AND VEGETARIAN FOOD FESTIVALS.

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