¡@In 1990, the Disciplined Services Departments Sports and Recreation Centre
was demolished to make way for the expansion of the Kai Tak Airport.
¡@"Since then we have been trying to provide facilities elsewhere, but were
unable to make available a suitable alternative site," said CIP Chan Ngai-yi, the
Police Force representative in the Disciplined Services Sports and Recreation
Club Steering Committee.
¡@In 1994, an agreement was reached on the disposal of military grounds
and a 17,400 square-metre site on the former military sports ground at So Kon
Po was designated to be the new site of the sports centre.
¡@"About 190,000 members of the Hong Kong Police Force, Fire Services
Department, Correctional Services Department, Immigration Department,
Customs and Excise Department, Government Flying Services and the Independent
Commission Against Corruption (including their civilian staff and families) will use
the proposed facilities. The project should contribute to maintaining their physical
fitness and morale," said SSP Charlie Cheung of the Personnel Services Branch.
¡@The complex adjacent to the Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po will be
divided into two blocks, each with about four storeys providing indoor sports
and recreational facilities.
¡@Facilities will include a heated indoor pool, a children's paddling pool and
Jacuzzi, an indoor games hall, three squash courts, a table tennis room, a fitness
room, a dancing room, a billiard room with six tables, changing rooms, two saunas
with steam bath attached and much more.
¡@In addition there will be reading areas, library and conference rooms,
children's play and video games sections, 6 karaoke rooms, a Chinese food restaurant,
bars and TV rooms, a 12-lane bowling centre, sports shop and mahjong rooms
for 20 tables.
¡@"There is no comparison of this highly advanced, state-of-the-art sports
facility with the old sports club at Kai Tak," said C P Chow, acting chief project
manager of the Architectural Services Department. "Outdoor facilities feature a
leisure pool, a full-size 11-a-side soccer pitch surrounded by a jogging track,
children's play area and 70 parking spaces.
¡@Special environmental considerations have been given in designing the
complex. All the existing trees will be preserved as far as possible within the site;
an ozone water treatment system will be used instead of the conventional chlorine
system; and the indoor and outdoor pools will be separated by a specially designed
glass shutter which will be opened in the summer and closed in the winter.
¡@"The indoor games hall, with its maple floor and safety cushioned wall, can
be divided into two basketball courts, accommodate two volleyball competitions,
or be converted into six badminton courts," Mr Chow added.
¡@Estimated cost is $297.4 million.
C P Chow with a model of the new Sports Club
OFFICERS of the
Government Disciplined Services will have a new sports and recreation club at
So Kon Po by the autumn of 1999. Construction is scheduled to begin this month.
| RECENTLY the Better
Hong Kong Foundation donated $1 million to the Police Children's Education Trust
and to the Police Education and Welfare Trust, to help raise awareness of the Hong
Kong Police Force's contribution to securing Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.
¡@Presenting the donation to Commissioner of Police Eddie Hui Ki-on, Better Hong Kong Foundation Trustee Robert Ng said that he believed this was an appropriate time to demonstrate appreciation for the invaluable role played by the Hong Kong Police Force in maintaining law and order and thereby helping Hong Kong to achieve and maintain stability and prosperity. |
 Better Hong Kong Foundation members with CP Hui and Force officials before receiving a generous gift of $1M |
|
¡@"It is no accident that they are known as Asia's Finest," said Mr Ng. "Our police men and women have faced, with courage and integrity, every challenge thrown at them in Hong Kong's rapid evolution to a modern international financial and trading centre. It is a fact that our streets are the safest of almost any major metropolis in the world, and that our crime rates are among the lowest anywhere." ¡@Mr Ng also paid tribute to the tremendous job the Force carried out during the recent changeover to Chinese sovereignty in ensuring that the historic transition went off without incident. "This was a remarkable achievement and demonstrated again the loyalty and efficiency of a Force of more than 27,000 police officers." ¡@However, Mr Ng noted that while the people of Hong Kong have come to expect the best of its policemen and women, it is sometimes overlooked that they are also part of the community with families and personal responsibilities. ¡@"One of the reasons the Hong Kong Police is of such a high calibre is that, as a matter of policy, matters such as the welfare of individual officers and their families are key concerns," Mr Ng said. ¡@One of those concerns is education, he said, and after discussion with senior police representatives, it was decided that a contribution to the Police Children's Education Trust and the Police Education and Welfare Trust would be appropriate. ¡@The Police Children's Education Trust provides assistance in, and facilities for, the higher education (post-primary education or above) of the children of junior police officers of the Hong Kong Police Force, and for the administration of and for purposes connected with the fund. ¡@The Police Education and Welfare Trust provides assistance in, and facilities for, the general education of the children of police officers of all ranks, including auxiliary police, and for welfare purposes of general benefit to all such officers, and for the administration of and for purposes connected with the fund. ¡@Set up in the 1960s, administered by their Management Committees, and monitored by an Investment Advisory Board, incomes of the two trusts come mainly from public donations, voluntary contributions within the Force and investment returns and interest from deposits. Over the past five years the trusts have granted bursary of $27.2 million to 9,129 children of police officers. | |
 Force gets $1M better . . . |
¡@"We would like to see awareness of this worthy educational charity reach as wide a public audience as possible and encourage others to also contribute," Robert Ng said. ¡@"The Hong Kong Police Force has played an enormous part in maintaining the territory's law and order and securing a safe and stable society. A donation will support the police, contribute to the well-being of our community and foster the skills of the next generation." ¡@Accepting the donation on behalf of the Force, CP Hui Ki-on thanked the Better Hong Kong Foundation and said he was glad the community was in support of the police and that the donation would be a boost to police morale. |
