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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has taken a new initiative to set up exercise stations at its leisure venues for the elderly to encourage them to do more exercises for the benefits of their health. The first exercise station - "Fitness Corner for the Elderly" at Kowloon Tsai Park has come into operation today (January 24).

The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah, introduced to the media and several Kowloon City District Council members today the department's new initiative as well as the functions and methods of use of the fitness equipment installed in the first exercise station -"Fitness Corner for the Elderly" at Kowloon Tsai Park.

Set up at a cost of $150,000, the "Fitness Corner for the Elderly" at Kowloon Tsai Park covers an area of some 100 square metres. Five sets of fitness equipment have been selected and improved by LCSD with reference taken from the most popular fitness equipment for the elderly in Beijing.

The five fitness equipment installed at the "Fitness Corner for the Elderly" in Kowloon Tsai Park are the Health Walker, the Pull-down Machine, the Rider, the Tai Chi Wheels as well as the Pull-ups and Pull-downs. They are installed with colourful safety mats imprinting elderly cartoons to brighten up the environment. In addition, guidelines are posted up at the venue for the elderly to safely use the equipment.

With the setting up of the exercise stations at the leisure venues, LCSD hopes to encourage the elderly to do fitness exercise regularly for the benefits of their own health.

The "Fitness Corner for the Elderly" at Kowloon Tsai Park is the first LCSD's exercise station to have set up at its leisure venues for the elderly. Seven more leisure venues under LCSD will be installed with exercise stations this year, including Tin Shui Wai Park in Yuen Long District, Wu Shan Recreation Ground in Tuen Mun District, Cheung Chau Park in Islands District, Morse Park No.3 in Wong Tai Sin District, Wong Chuk Hang Service Reservoir Rest Garden in South District, Sai Yee Street Garden in Yau Tsim Mong District and Tsuen Wan Riviera Park in Tsuen Wan District.

End/Thursday, January 24, 2002

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