XN000022-1984-12-20 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20,

1984

SHE LEARNED THAT A SQUATTER AREA AND THE DWELLING BOATS ON THE NORTHERN SHORE WOULD BE CLEARED IN PHASES TO FACILITATE RECLAMATION WORK. THE RECLAMATION SHOULD PROVIDE SEVEN HECTARES OF LAND FOR OPEN SPACE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COASTAL HIGHWAY, A PUBLIC LANDING AREA, MARKETING AND OTHER FACILITIES AND AN

INDUSTRIAL SITE.

THE RECLAMATION PROJECT WILL ALSO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR BOATYARDS AND MARINE ENGINE WORKSHOPS ALONG THE NORTHERN SHORE FOR WHICH ALTERNATIVE SITES WILL BE PROVIDED.

MRS THATCHER WAS BRIEFED ON THE RECLAMATION IN ABERDEEN AS WELL. STAGE 1 OF THE RECLAMATION WAS FINISHED BY 1977, PROVIDING ABOUT 6.6 HECTARES OF LAND. STAGE 2 IS AN 11-YEAR PROJECT STRETCHING FROM 1976 TO 1987.

SHE LEARNED OF ABERDEEN'S GROWTH FROM A FISHING VILLAGE TO A BUSTLING RESIDENTIAL-INDUSTRIAL AREA WITH ITS POPULATION AND THAT OF AP LE! CHAU NOW EXCEEDING 200 000 PEOPLE, 64 PER CENT OF THEM LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING.

FROM A VANTAGE POINT, MRS THATCHER COULD SEE SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS.

SHE THEN PROCEEDED TO HO YAN KINDERGARTEN ON AP LE CHAU RUN BY SIK SIK YUEN, A BUDDHIST ORGANISATION. SHE PLAYED WITH THE PUPILS AND SANG CHRISTMAS CAROLS WITH THEM.

MRS THATCHER AND THE PARTY NEXT MOVED TO THE COMMUNITY HALL WHICH, SHE WAS TOLD, IS THE FOCAL POINT OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES FOR THE AP LEI CHAU ESTATE'S POPULATION OF ABOUT 22 000 PEOPLE AS WELL AS AN IMPORTANT CENTRE FOR CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

SHE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD AND WAS SHOWN CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY, RIBBON FLOWER- MAKING AND KNITTING CLASSES IN PROGRESS.

A TEA RECEPTION WAS HELD FOR MRS THATCHER IN THE HALL WHERE SHE ALSO MET MEMBERS OF THE AP LEI CHAU YIN NGAI SOCIETY WHICH IS DEVOTED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WOMEN ON THE ISLAND.

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