XN000022-1987-02-09 — Page 8

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT IS GIVEN IN THE +REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT THIRD QUARTER 1986+ RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE QUARTERLY SURVEY REPORT IS PRICED AT $2 A COPY. IT MAY BE BOUGHT AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT CENTRE OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL. REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 3-7224490 (BEFORE FEBRUARY 15) AND 5-8234860 (AFTER FEBRUARY 15).

CALL TO UTILISE ABANDONED VILLAGE SCHOOLS

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A LARGE NUMBER OF VILLAGE SCHOOLS LYING ABANDONED COULD BE CONVERTED INTO RURAL EDUCATION CENTRES FOR THE STUDY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE OR YOUTH HOSTELS TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN AND APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

A MUCH REDUCED POPULATION IN MANY REMOTE VILLAGES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES HAD RESULTED IN THE ABANDONMENT OF NUMEROUS VILLAGE SCHOOLS, SOME OF WHICH STILL HAVE BASIC UTILITIES SUCH AS WATER SUPPLY AND ELECTRICITY, HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ROTARY CLUB DR HAYES SAID THE FACTORS WHICH HAD LED TO THE ABANDONMENT OF THE VILLAGES, WHICH IN MOST CASES WERE CENTURIES OLD, WERE PROBABLY IRREVERSIBLE BUT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE VILLAGE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

+BEING LOCATED IN THE COUNTRY PARKS, PERHAPS THEY COULD BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH COUNTRY PARK ACTIVITIES,+ DR HAYES SAID.

+THERE IS ALSO THE PROSPECT THEY MIGHT BE USED AS RURAL EDUCATION CENTRES FOR THE STUDY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, PROVIDING OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION IN REMOTE PLACES OF GREAT BEAUTY WHERE CHILDREN OR ADULTS COULD BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERIENCE.

+SOME, TOO, MIGHT BE CAPABLE OF CONVERSION AS YOUTH HOSTELS,+ HE SAID.

+ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN LETTING THEM MOULDER AWAY, AS IS HAPPENING AT PRESENT, HE ADDED.