XN000022-1985-01-26 — Page 9

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1985

THE MAIN FEATURE OF THE COMPLEX IS A 36 X 36 METRE MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES ARENA PAVED WITH GRANWOOD FLOORING, WHICH CAN BE TURNED INTO TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, TWO VOLLEYBALL COURTS OR EIGHT BADMINTON COURTS.

THE ARENA CAN ALSO BE USED FOR FENCING, GYMNASTICS, JUDO, TABLE-TENNIS, TRAMPOLINE AND WEIGHT-LIFTING FOR TRAINING AS WELL AS COMPETITIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IT HAS A CONCRETE STAND FOR 400 PEOPLE, AND 350 RETRACTABLE SEATS.

OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDE THREE AIR-CONDITIONED SQUASH COURTS, ONE GAMES ROOM FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS COURSES, DANCING OR OTHER LECTURES, A TRAINING-LECTURE ROOM, CHANGING ROOMS AND AN OFFICE.

PURPOSE-BUILT RAMPS LEADING TO THE COMPLEX AND SPECIAL CHANGING FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED FOR THE DISABLED.

AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, MR AKERS-JONES AND SIR SHIU-KIN TANG WILL JOINTLY PLANT A YOUNG TREE AT THE SLOPE, JUST BEHIND THE SPORTS COMPLEX.

ALSO TAKING PART IN THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR GRAHAM BARNES, AND THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR MICHAEL SUEN.

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NEED FOR CULTURAL PURSUITS STRESSED

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CULTURAL PURSUITS WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF A BALANCED AND STABLE COMMUNITY, THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR IAN WOTHERSPOON, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SIXTH CHINESE PAINTING, CALLIGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION AT NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL.

THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES WORKS OF ABOUT 120 WELL-KNOWN LOCAL ARTISTS, MAINLY FROM THE NORTH DISTRICT, AND MEMBERS OF THE NORTH DISTRICT ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION.

+AT A TIME OF RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH DISTRICT, IT IS MOST ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT THE CULTURAL TREND OF THE COMMUNITY IS EXPANDING AND FLOURISHING, MR HSU SAID.

SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE THREE-DAY EXHIBITION WAS ORGANISED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION.

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