XN000022-1994-04-26 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1994

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ALSO

THE JOCKEY CLUB HAS MANAGEMENT OF THE GOLF CENTRE, COMPLETION.

AGREED

TO TAKE UP THE INITIAL

AT THE CLUB'S COSTS, UPON ITS

A POTENTIAL SITE COVERING APPROXIMATELY 158 HECTARES HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND FOR THE PURPOSE.

THE LAND, WHICH WAS FORMERLY USED AS A FIRING RANGE, USED FOR ANY SPECIFIC PURPOSE AT PRESENT. ITS TERRAIN TS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GOLF CENTRE.

REPRESENTED

18 NOT SUITABLE

A MAJOR

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROPOSED PROJECT EFFORT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP GOLF AS A POPULAR SPORT IN HONG KONG.

"AT PRESENT, THERE ARE ONLY FIVE GOLF COURSES IN HONG KONG, ALL OF WHICH BELONG TO PRIVATE RECREATIONAL CLUBS WITH RESTRICTED ACCESS.

"AS GOLF IS GAINING POPULARITY IN HONG KONG, THE PROPOSAL REPRESENTS A BIG STEP FORWARD IN THE PROVISION OF GOLFING FACILITIES AT AFFORDABLE CHARGES TO THE PUBLIC," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE PROJECT WILL BE ENVIRONMENTALLY LED. AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TO EXAMINE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OF THE PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE FINDINGS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE ACCEPTABLE.

A TRANSPORT IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY HAVE ALSO BEEN SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED.

MEASURES RECOMMENDED IN THE VARIOUS STUDIES WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE JOCKEY CLUB TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

18-HOLE COURSES, A CLUB

THE CENTRE WILL MAINLY COMPRISE TWO HOUSE, A DRIVING RANGE AND OTHER ANCILLARY FACILITIES.

IT IS HOPED THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN IN MAY THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

MEMBERS OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD WERE BRIEFED ON THR CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT THIS MORNING. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PANEL ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ALSO WILL BE BRIEFED IN EARLY MAY.

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