XN000022-1986-04-17 — Page 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1986

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CONTRIBUTION BY RECREATIONAL CLUBS RECOGNISED

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THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY PRIVATE RECREATIONAL CLUBS IN HONG KONG IN PROVIDING LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE WIDELY RECOGNISED, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

+OVER THE YEARS, THEY HAVE PROVIDED A WIDE RANGE OF SPORTING FACILITIES AND HAVE HELPED FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMATEUR SPORT IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SPORTING COMPLEX OF THE HONG KONG FOOTBALL CLUB.

SIR EDWARD SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS A VERY BUSY PLACE AND IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT +WE MAKE AS MUCH PROVISION AS WE CAN FOR LEISURE AND RECREATION.+

+THE DRAMATIC EXPANSION OF THE GOVERNMENT SPORTS PROGRAMME IN RECENT YEARS WAS UNLIKELY TO REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR SPORTING FACILITIES, HE ADDED.

PRAISING THE CLUB AS ONE OF THE LEADING PRIVATE RECREATIONAL CLUBS IN HONAN KONG, SIR EDWARD SAID IT HAD A PROUD RECORD IN THE PROMOTION OF SPORTS IN THE TERRITORY.

+JUDGING BY THE CONFIDENCE THAT IT HAS SHOWN IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS NEW COMPLEX, I AM SURE THAT THE CLUB WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS FIELD IN THE FUTURE.+

HE SAID THE OPENING MARKED AN IMPORTANT STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLUB, SINCE THE ADDITIONAL FACILITIES WERE COMPLETED DURING THE CLUB'S CENTENARY YEAR.

THE $18 MILLION COMPLEX, NAMED THE LOCKHART SPORTS HALL, PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR OFFICES, A COMPUTER ROOM AND ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

FOR MEMBERS THERE IS A SPORTSMAN'S BAR, A SAUNA, CHANGING ROOM, SQUASH COURTS, VIDEO LIBRARY, LIBRA AND READING ROOM, MEETING AND FUNCTION ROOMS.

THE FIRST FLOOR MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS HALL PROVIDES FACILITIES FOR INDOOR TENNIS, HOCKEY, SOCCER, LAWN BOWLS, BADMINTON, NET-BALL AND FITNESS TRAINING.

TWO ARTIFICIAL TURF TENNIS COURTS HAVE ALSO BEEN LAID WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FLOOD-LIGHTING ON THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING.

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