XN000022-1989-01-25 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1989

THE SECOND LARGEST GROUP OR 15.6 PER CENT WERE STUDENT WHILE UNSKILLED OR SEMI-SKILLED WORKERS AND TECHNICIANS OCCUPIED 14.7 PER CENT AND 11.4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.

UP ABOUT

"THE COMBINED PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGERIAL GRADE MADE 14.7 PER CENT WITH THE REST BELONGING TO HOUSEWIVES. RETIRED AND UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE."

WENT

MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT OVER 90 PER CENT OF THE VISITORS TO THE COUNTRY PARKS IN GROUPS OF VARYING SIZES WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, SCHOOL FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.

"HOWEVER, THE SURVEY REVEALED THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, OR ABOUT 9.2 PER CENT, VISITED THE COUNTRY PARKS ON THEIR OWN.

"THIS PERCENTAGE REPRESENTS A STEADY INCREASE OVER THE RATINGS OF 3.7 PER CENT AND 6.6 PER CENT RECORDED IN THE 1983 AND 1985 SURVEYS, HE SAID.

THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT THE SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK REMAINED THE MOST POPULAR AMONG THE 21 COUNTRY PARKS IN HONG KONG. FOLLOWED DY SHING MUN, ABERDEEN, KAM SHAN AND TAI TAM COUNTRY PARKS.

IT ALSO SHOWED THAT BARBECUING WAS THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITY INSIDE COUNTRY PARKS. OTHERS INCLUDED LEISURE WALKING, HIKING, SPORTING AND FITNESS EXERCISE, PICNICKING AND CYCLING.

ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, NIGHT VISITS TO COUNTRY PARKS HAD BECOME POPULAR.

"OF THE INTERVIEWEES, 28.7 PER CENT HAD VISITED COUNTRY PARKS AFTER 7 PM. MOST OF THE NIGHT VISITORS WENT TO RATHER REMOTE COUNTRY PARKS WHERE PARKING SPACES ARE AVAILABLE," MR WONG SAID.

THE SURVEY ALSO PROVIDED USEFUL

INFORMATION

ABOUT VISITORS'

VIEWS, ON PARK FACILITIES AND SERVICES.

WPRE WELCOMED RY

"THOUGH MOST OF THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES VISITORS, 27.1 PER CENT OF THE INTERVIEWEES STILL CONSIDERED THAT IMPROVEMENT OF TOILET FACILITIES A MATTER OF PRIORITY.

"ABOUT 9.2 PER CENT SUGGESTED INSTALLED IN RECREATIONAL SITES WHILE RAIN SHELTERS, MR WONG SAID.

THAT WATER SUPPLY SHOULD DE 5.5 PER CENT REQUESTED MORE

"THE SURVEY HAS PROVIDED THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY WITH SUFFICIENT EMPIRICAL DATA ON THE NATURE, BEHAVIOUR AND EXPECTATIONS OF

PARK VISITORS.

"THESE WILL ASSIST PARK PLANNERS AND MANAGERS TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CLIENTS AND TO CATER FOR THEIR NEEDS, HE

ADDED.

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