XN000022-1985-06-17 — Page 4

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MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1985

12TH UC SWIMMING POOL FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT

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WITH THE OPENING OF THE SHAM SHUI PO PARK SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX IN EARLY AUGUST, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL COMPLEXES THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREAS WILL RISE TO 12.

LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE SHAM SHUI PO PARK, THE NEW COMPLEX HOUSES A 50-METRE MAIN POOL, A SECONDARY POOL, A TRAINING POOL, TWO TEACHING POOLS, À DIVING POOL, AND TWO PADDLING POOLS. THE MAIN POOL WILL BE HEATED IN WINTER TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR WINTER SWIMMING FACILITIES.

OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDE A SUNBATHING AREA, A SPECTATOR STAND, A RESTAURANT, A SODA FOUNTAIN, A FIRST-AID ROOM, CHANGING ROOMS AND TOILETS.

THE $46-MILLION PROJECT IS THE THIRD SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX PROVIDED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR KOWLOON WEST. OTHER TWO ARE IN LEI CHENG UK AND LAI CHI KOK PARK.

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+ IT IS HOPED THAT THE NEW COMPLEX WILL PROVE A POPULAR RECREATION VENUE FOR SHAM SHUI PO RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE FROM SURROUNDING DISTRICTS, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL.

IN ADDITION TO THE THREE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEXES IN KOWLOON WEST. THE PENINSULA HAS FOUR MORE COMPLEXES LOCATED RESPECTIVELY IN KOWLOON TSAI, KWUN TONG, MORSE PARK AND TAI WAN SHAN. THERE ARE FIVE COMPLEXES ON HONG KONG ISLAND CHAI WAN, KENNEDY TOWN, MORRISON HILL, ABERDEEN AND VICTORIA PARK.

THE FACILITIES IN THE 11 EXISTING SWIMMING POOLS ARE ABOUT THE SAME. EACH COMPLEX COMPRISES POOLS OF VARIOUS SIZES AND DEPTHS TO MEET DIFFERENT NEEDS AND A SPECTATOR STAND TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WATCHING COMPETITION EVENTS AND SWIMMING GALAS.

ELECTRONIC TIMING AND ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT IS INSTALLED AT SIX MAJOR POOL COMPLEXES FOR HOSTING TERRITORY-WIDE OR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS. MOST POOLS ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH FACILITIES FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.

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DURING THE 1984-85 FINANCIAL YEAR, 4.4 MILLION PEOPLE PATRONISED THE URBAN SWIMMING POOLS, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 19 PER CENT OVER ATTENDANCES IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

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