XN000022-1987-04-04 — Page 8

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1987

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THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR PAUL LEUNG AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR GERRY FORSGATE, PERFORMED AN EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY FOR THE LION DANCE AS A CURTAIN-RAISER.

THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, THEN UNVEILED A MEMORIAL PLAQUE TO MARK THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE PARK.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR VINCENT KO SAID THE BOARD HAD BEEN MAKING STRENUOUS AND PERSISTENT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

+THE RE-LOCATION OF THE CATTLE DEPOT, WHICH HAS CAUSED ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCES FOR A LONG TIME, AND THE BUILDING OF SUCH A NICE RESTING PLACE ARE VERY GOOD EXAMPLES, HE SAID.

+BY MAKING CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TEMPORARILY VACANT LAND, THE BOARD HAS DEMONSTRATED INGENUITY AND IMAGINATION AND ABOVE ALL, GENUINE CONCERN FOR PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING,+ HE ADDED.

+BESIDES. IT REFLECTS THAT THE DISTRICT BOARD IS PLAYING AN EFFECTIVE ROLE IN THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE SCHEME, HE SAID.

+ IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY BUILDING, THE PROJECT IS ALSO A MATTER OF SIGNIFICANCE AS IT INVOLVED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

MR KO SAID THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE PROJECT WAS SUPERVISED BY A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER ALSO SHOWED THE BOARD'S SINCERITY AND DETERMINATION IN IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT.

+WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, WORKS WERE COMPLETED WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME, IN FACT JUST A FEW MONTHS, AT A FAIRLY LOW COST OF $200 000, HE SAID.

THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, DR WANG GUNGWU SAID THE PROJECT WAS VERY MEANINGFUL. HE SAID AS SOME ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS HAD VOLUNTEERED TO PREPARE THE LAY-OUT PLAN, IT ALSO SYMBOLISED THE JOINT EFFORTS OF THE TOWN AND THE GOWN IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY.

DR WANG ENCOURAGED OTHER STUDENTS TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY TO SHOW THE IR GRATEFULNESS TO SOCIETY.

OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS INCLUDED THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LAM KAM-KWONG, ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS ELIZABETH TSE, THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE OF HKU. PROFESSOR ERIC LYE AND THE BOARD'S ENVIRONMENT AND WORKS COMMITTEE, MISS ESTHER CHAN.

ABOUT 1 800 SQUARE METRES IN AREA, THE PARK CONSISTS OF A SITTING-CUT AREA, WITH ARBOUR AND RAIN SHELTER CONVERTED FROM OLD CATTLE SHEDS. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN AND A SPECIALLY DESIGNED PLATFORM FOR OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES.

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