XN000022-1986-04-10 — Page 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1986

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OPENS POLICE OFFICERS' CLUB

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HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, THE HONORARY COMMANDANT GENERAL OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, TODAY (THURSDAY) OFFICIALLY OPENED THE POLICE OFFICERS' CLUB IN CAUSEWAY BAY.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, THE PRINCESS WAS GREETED, ON HER ARRIVAL, BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR RAYMON ANNING, WHO INTRODUCED THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, MANAGEMENT, MR ERIC BLACKBURN THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PERSONNEL MR ERIC MCCOSH THE SENIOR STAFF OFFICER, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, MR AL PHILIP; AND THE CLUB MANAGER, MR JOCK ATKINSON.

IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, MR BLACKBURN SAID THE NEW CLUB WOULD PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF EXCELLENT SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WHICH CLUB MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WOULD FIND MOST ATTRACTIVE, NOT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES BUT FOR FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES FROM ALL STATIONS IN SOCIETY,

THE PRINCESS WAS THEN INVITED TO UNVEIL A PLAQUE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CLUB BUILDING, AND WAS PRESENTED WITH A COMMEMORATIVE SOUVENIR. TRUMPETERS FROM THE POLICE BAND THEN SOUNDED A FANFAKE.

THE CLUB, A MODERN, TWO-STOREY STRUCTURE OVERLOOKING THE CAUSEWAY BAY TYPHOON SHELTER, WILL CATER FOR A MIXTURE OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR SERVING AND RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE REGULAR AND AUXILIARY POLICE FORCES, OF THE RANK OF INSPECTOR AND ABOVE.

ON A TOUR OF THE CLUB, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA INSPECTED SOME OF THE FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDE A TEN-PIN BOWLING ALLEY, A FITNESS ROOM, A CHILDREN'S PLAY ROOM, A TABLE TENNIS ROOM, FOUR SQUASH COURTS, A BILLIARD ROOM, TWO TENNIS COURTS, A SWIMMING POOL, A LAWN BOWLS GREEN AND A RESTAURANT.

FUNDS FOR BUILDING THE CLUB WERE MET LARGELY BY THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTED BY A GRANT FROM THE POLICE WELFARE FUND AND A GENEROUS DONATION BY SIR SHIU-KIN TANG. WHO WAS PRESENTED TO THE PRINCESS. CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE BY A LARGE NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

WITHIN THE FORCE, MUCH GOOD WORK WAS DONE BY THE PLANNING AN DEVELOPMENT BRANCH AND THE SOCIAL AMENITIES COUNCIL TO MAKE THE SPECIAL WELFARE PROJECT A SUCCESS.

AFTER TOURING THE BUILDING, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA ATTENDED A RECEPTION AT WHICH A CROSS-SECTION OF THE FORCE OFFICER CADRE WAS PRESENT.

BEFORE SHE LEFT THE CLUB, THE PRINCESS WAS PRESENTED WITH A BOUQUET BY VIVIAN TO, OF THE 18TH WEST KOWLOON BROWNIE PACK, AFTER HAVING SIGNED THE VISITOR'S BOOK.

THE PRINCESS'S HUSBAND, THE HON ANGUS OGILVY, DID NOT ATTEND THE OPENING. HE HAS THE FLU AND HAS BEEN ADVISED BY DOCTORS TO REST.