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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)'s Ma On Shan Promenade opened today (September 18) to serve as another quality leisure facility for the community.
The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung, along with the Chairman of Sha Tin District Council, Mr Wai Kwok-hung; Deputy Director of Architectural Services, Mr Leung Koon Kee; and Deputy Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Adrian Ng, officiated at the opening cum tree planting ceremony for the promenade today.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Fung said that the Government had spared no efforts in upgrading and beautifying the waterfront, including construction of more promenades and enhancement of the facilities in existing ones, with a view to providing more open space along the waterfront for better enjoyment by the public.
"The Ma On Shan Promenade is LCSD's first park with the installation of environmental-friendly facilities. Featuring wind turbines that generate electricity for some of the floor lightings in the park, as well as innovative solar and wind hybrid lamps that utilise natural energy without emission of carbon dioxide, the Promenade demonstrates vividly how environmental protection elements can be incorporated into leisure facilities."
"To raise public awareness in environmental protection and to promote environmental education, LCSD will continue to incorporate innovative and environmental-friendly facilities into our new leisure facilities," Mrs Fung said.
"The completion and commissioning of the Ma On Shan Promenade is due in a large measure to the concerted efforts and support of the Architectural Services Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department as well as other relevant government departments and organisations. The Sha Tin District Council and the local community have also rendered their strong support for this project. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the government departments and organisations involved as well as the Shatin District Council for their contributions to the project," Mrs Fung said.
She stressed that not only would LCSD continue to provide more high quality leisure and cultural facilities in Sha Tin, it would also work closely with the Sha Tin District Council in offering leisure and sports facilities that meet the needs of the residents in the district through, for example, the District Minor Works programme.
Located along the coast of Ma On Shan, the 3.2-kilometre-long promenade covers an area of about 5.2 hectares and was built at a cost of approximately $220 million. The construction works of the promenade was carried out in three phases, with phase 1 and phase 2 completed in last July and this January respectively, and phase 3 opened to public use in June this year.
Facing Sha Tin Hoi, the Promenade is the second largest promenade in Sha Tin district. It offers an arresting vista of Pat Sin Leng with continuous ridgeline, where members of public can take in both the grandeur of the mountains and the tranquil sea while enjoying the diversified facilities in the Promenade. Cyclists will be thrilled by the scenery when cycling on the track on the outskirt of the Promenade. The Promenade also offers a wide array of facilities to people of all ages, including children's playgrounds, fitness stations, jogging trails, walking tiles, elderly fitness corners, Tai Chi areas and a bougainvillea garden.
In order to promote environmental awareness and to showcase how environmental friendly facilities can be blended in with the park environment, three wind turbines to provide electricity to some of the floor lightings as well as two solar and wind hybrid lamps have been installed in the Promenade. In addition, the children's play equipment embodies the elements of natural science and environmental protection. Children can acquire related knowledge while having fun.
At today's ceremony, the officiating guests planted a number of Cassia surattensis. The tree, with blossoms of bright yellow flowers almost all year round and is often associated with sunshine, is also known as 'sunshine tree'. The tree is of a strong species with high ornamental value. It symbolises the sustainability of the Promenade along with other facilities in the district, thereby contributing to a quality living environment for the local community.
Ma On Shan Promenade, which adjoins the Ma On Shan Park, opens 24 hours daily throughout the year and is easily accessible by public transport (bus route nos. 43X, 81C, 85K, 86K, 89C, 286M, 289K, 680, 681, 682 and A41P; public light bus route nos. 26, 808 and 810; or by getting off at Tai Shui Hang Station, Heng On Station or Ma On Shan Station of the MTR Ma On Shan Line).
Ends/Saturday, September 18, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:22
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