XN000022-1986-02-05 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1986'

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RECREATION AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR ISLANDERS

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THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL ORGANISE ABOUT 90 RECREATION AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR THE 9 900 RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE.

IT WILL ALSO ORGANISE FOR THE FIRST TIME A SERIES OF EIGHT LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL TYPE EVENTS FOR CHILDREN TO TIE IN WITH OTHER FESTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE RSD'S DISTRICT LEISURE MANAGER (ISLANDS), MR TAM PAK-HANG, AT A MEETING OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT COMMITTEE OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE COMMITTEE WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE DEPARTMENT'S PLANS TO GAZETTE TONG FUK BEACH ON LANTAU ISLAND FOR THE PUBLIC IN MAY. THE BEACH, LOCATED NEAR TO THE BUS ROUTE, HAS BEEN VERY POPULAR WITH PICNICKERS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

A PROPOSAL BY THE RSD TO PROVIDE A STANDARD SPORTSGROUND AT MUI WO ON LANTAU ISLAND RECEIVED THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE AT THE MEETING.

THE RSD'S SENIOR STAFF OFFICER (PLANNING), MR PETER LAW, SAID CURRENTLY THERE WAS NO STANDARD SPORTSGROUND IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT AND MAJOR SPORTS EVENTS HAD TO BE HELD ELSEWHERE.

MR LAW POINTED OUT THAT THE CURRENT HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES RECOMMEND THE PROVISION OF A STANDARD SPORTSGROUND FOR EVERY 250 000 RESIDENTS.

+ WITH A CURRENT POPULATION OF ABOUT 52 000 AND A PROJECTED POPULATION OF 63 000 BY 1995, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT IS THEREFORE THE ONLY DISTRICT IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA WHERE THERE IS NEITHER AN EXISTING STANDARD SPORTSGROUND NOR ANY PLAN TO CONSTRUCT ONE,+ HE SAID.

+SINCE A STRICT APPLICATION OF THE PLANNING STANDARDS MAY RESULT IN UNDERPROVISION, A DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY HAS TO BE APPLIED IN ASSESSING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE RATHER ISOLATED RURAL ISLANDS DISTRICT.+

HE ADDED THAT A STANDARD SPORTSGROUND ALLOWED FOR HIGH LEVEL COMPETITIONS AND MIGHT HELP TO FORGE A DISTRICT IDENTITY. +FLEXIBLE APPLICATION OF THE HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARD AND GUIDELINES RELATED TO THE PROVISION OF A STANDARD SPORTSGROUND IN MUI WO IS CONSIDERED TO BE JUSTIFIABLE.+

AT THE MEETING, THE RSD'S DISTRICT HYGIENE SUPERINTENDENT ISLANDS), MR IP KI-TIT, SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS PLANNING A SECOND CEMETERY ON LANTAU WITH 2 700 BURIAL SPACES, TWO CREMATORIA AND ASSOCIATED COLUMBARIUM WITH 1 000 NICHES, ONE ON CHEUNG CHAU AND THE OTHER ON LANTAU AND TWO 500-NICHE COLUMBARIA FOR PENG CHAU AND LAMMA ISLAND.

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