XN000022-1990-03-18 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1990

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NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE COMES CLOSER TO REALITY

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THE SAI KUNG

HONG KONG'S FIRST NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE COMES ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY TODAY (SUNDAY) AS $5 MILLION IS RAISED FOR THE PROJECT.

THE CENTRE IS TO BE LOCATED IN THE TSIU HANG SPECIAL AREA, A 34-HECTARE SITE BY THE SIDE OF HIRAM'S HIGHWAY NEAR SAI KUNG TOWN.

IT ACCOMMODATES A FORMER FARM OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IN SAI KUNG. THE AREA IS OF HIGH EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL DUE ΤΟ THE SUITABILITY OF ITS TERRAIN, CONVENIENT TRANSPORT AND HIGH LANDSCAPE VALUE.

TODAY'S FUND-RAISING DRIVE, ENTITLED "LIONS WALK AND GROW 89-90", WAS LAUNCHED BY THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 303, HONG KONG AND MACAU. IT TOOK THE FORM OF TREE PLANTING AND A TRAIL WALK IN WHICH MORE THAN 1,000 LION CLUB MEMBERS TOOK PART.

OFFICIATING AT THE FUNCTION, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, EXPLAINED WHY THE TSIU HANG SPECIAL AREA WAS AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR DEVELOPING MORE FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR COUNTRYSIDE INTERPRETATION AND NATURE EDUCATION.

"THERE IS ALREADY A RICH COLLECTION OF FRUIT TREES, NATIVE FLOWERING TREES AND LOCAL MEDICINAL PLANTS,' HE SAID.

It

"THEREFORE ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO DEVELOP A COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE THERE IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW EXHIBITION CENTRE AND THE UPGRADING OF OTHER ASSOCIATED FACILITIES.

'I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IF THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND BETTER OUR COUNTRYSIDE WITH ITS RICH VARIETY OF VEGETATION, WILDLIFE AND RURAL HERITAGE, THEY WOULD NOT ONLY DERIVE MORE ENJOYMENT IN THEIR VISITS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE BUT ALSO HAVE A GREATER CONCERN IN TAKING CARE OF IT BOTH FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR CHILDREN 中甲 DR LEE SAID.

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HE THANKED THE LIONS CLUBS FOR GENEROUSLY AGREEING TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE'S EXHIBITION HALLS, WHICH WOULD BE NAMED IN HONOUR OF THEM.

"THERE IS MUCH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT AND THE COMMUNITY IN TURN WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS MEANINGFUL

Fr PROJECT, HE REMARKED.

CENTRE WAS

INCLUDING

THE IDEA OF DEVELOPING THE AREA INTO A COUNTRYSIDE FIRST MOOTED IN 1986 AND HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTRY PARK BOARD, SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD AND RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH.

/ONE OBJECTIVE