XN000022-1991-11-19 — Page 10

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1991

A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS, NOTABLY THE HONG KONG AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND SCHOOLS, HAD VOICED THEIR CONCERN OVER THE EXCLUSION OF A RUNNING TRACK IN THE PROPOSED DESIGN OF THE NEW STADIUM.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID INFORMATION AVAILABLE INDICATED THAT THE EXISTING HONG KONG STADIUM WAS USED ABOUT 80 DAYS A YEAR BY SCHOOLS FOR ATHLETIC MEETS, ABOUT 70 OF WHICH HAD AN ATTENDANCE OF 1,000 OR BELOW ON EACH OCCASION, AND ONLY ABOUT 10 HAD AN ATTENDANCE OF OVER 5,000.

"

'ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE A STANDARD RUNNING TRACK IN THE NEW HONG KONG STADIUM DUE TO SITE CONSTRAINTS AND OTHER REASONS, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE VENUES, SUCH AS THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND AND WANCHAI SPORTS GROUND WHICH AT PRESENT HAVE CONSIDERABLE SPARE CAPACITY TO MEET THE DEMAND OF MOST SCHOOLS ON THE ISLAND," HE SAID.

THE JOCKEY THE URBAN SEATING CAPACITY

MOREOVER, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE STEWARDS OF CLUB HAD SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER FUNDING A REQUEST FROM COUNCIL IF THE COUNCIL FELT THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, MORE WAS NEEDED AT THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND.

IN ADDITION, THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG'S GROUND IS OPEN TO ALL SCHOOLS FOR ATHLETIC MEETS.

STANLEY HO SPORTS

"OTHER URBAN COUNCIL SPORTS GROUNDS IN KOWLOON, SUCH AS THE KOWLOON BAY SPORTS GROUND, THE KOWLOON TSAI PARK SPORTS GROUND, THE SHAM SHUI PO SPORTS GROUND AND THE HAMMER HILL ROAD SPORTS GROUND ARE ALSO OPEN TO SCHOOL USE AND THEY HAVE ADEQUATE SPARE CAPACITY TO MEET SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS," HE SAID.

"WITH THE CO-OPERATION AND GOODWILL OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, WE TRUST THAT SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE WORKED OUT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE SUITABLE VENUES FOR THEIR STUDENTS TO HAVE FUN AND GAMES AT REGULAR SPORTS DAYS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

JLG EXPERT TALKS ON DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER STARTS TOMORROW

AN EIGHTH ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN EXPERTS OF THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER WILL BE HELD IN HONG KONG FROM NOVEMBER 20 TO 21.

ZHENG

THE BRITISH TEAM WILL BE LED BY BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE MR ALAN PAUL. THE CHINESE TEAM WILL BE LED BY CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE MR WE IRONG.

THEY WILL BE ASSISTED BY EXPERTS FROM THE TWO SIDES.

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