XN000022-1985-08-04 — Page 9

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 1985

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MORE NICHES TO MEET GROWING DEMAND FOR CREMATION

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THE URBAN COUNCIL'S DIAMOND HILL COLUMBARIUM WILL REPLACE THE CAPE COLLINSON COLUMBARIUM AS THE BIGGEST IN THE URBAN AREA WHEN A NINE-STOREY EXTENSION TO THE COLUMBARIUM IS COMPLETED IN EARLY 1987. THIS WILL TAKE THE NUMBER OF NICHES AVAILABLE THERE FROM 6 612 TO OVER 42 000.

PILING AND FOUNDATION WORK FOR THE EXTENSION HAVE RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED AND TENDERS ARE NOW BEING INVITED TO BUILD THE SUPERSTRUCTURE.

TWO LIFTS WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE BUILDING AND SHOULD PROVE A BOON TO VISITORS, SPECIALLY THE ELDERLY.

A TOTAL OF 36 000 ADDITIONAL NICHES WILL BE PROVIDED, OF WHICH ONE QUARTER WILL BE FAMILY NICHES ABLE TO TAKE FOUR URNS.

SINCE THE DIAMOND HILL COLUMBARIUM WAS OPENED IN 1979 A NUMBER OF EXTENSION WORKS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR CREMATION.

AN URBAN COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE RATIO OF CREMATIONS TO BURIALS HAD NOW RISEN TO ABOUT 63 TO 37.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT THE COUNCIL'S TARGET OF 65 TO 35 WILL BE ACHIEVED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HE ADDED.

AT THE COUNCIL'S OTHER COLUMBARIUM, AT CAPE COLLINSON ON HONG KONG ISLAND, EXTENSIONS ARE BEING MADE TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 13 000 NICHES, AND THE WORK IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECT FOR RESIDENTS

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THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD HAS LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECT TO FIND OUT THE EFFECTS OF SIGNBOARDS ON RESIDENTS, AND TO STUDY THE INFLUENCE VARIOUS RECREATION CENTRES HAVE ON ADOLESCENTS.

THE +COMMUNITY IN PERSPECTIVE+ PROJECT IS AIMED AT ENHANCING RESIDENTS' KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR DISTRICT AND TO FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING IN THE COMMUNITY.

A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD IN THE COMING MONTHS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTAND VARIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE DISTRICT SO THAT THEY CAN FIND SOLUTIONS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.

/THEY WILL ...