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The disciplinary forces are vital to maintaining stability and peace in Hong Kong and have made great contribution to the territory over the years, the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, said today (March 2).

Officiating at the opening ceremony of the new Disciplined Services Sports and Recreation Club (DSSRC) at So Kon Po, Causeway Bay, Mrs Ip pointed out that disciplined services staff were required to have a very high standard of physical fitness and to work on shift duties. In addition, as the community is having higher expectation of the public service, the pressure faced by frontline staff is immense. It is therefore essential for disciplined services staff to take physical exercise while off-duty and lead a healthy life.

She said that the Government had all along taken into consideration the unique job nature of disciplined services staff and their need to keep physically fit. Suitable recreational facilities were therefore made available for the use of staff.

The new club replaces the former Disciplined Services Sports Centre at Kai Tak Airport, which was closed in 1990 to make way for the expansion of the airport. The Government later allocated a site with an area of 17 400 square metres at So Kon Po, Causeway Bay for the reconstruction of the club. After several years of preparation and construction, the new club was opened on January 12 this year to staff of seven disciplined services and their family members.

The new club comprises two four-storey buildings linked up with each other, providing multi-purposed sports and recreational facilities. They include a football pitch, a swimming pool, an indoor games hall, tennis courts, bowling alleys, a billiards room, a fitness room, and Chinese and Western restaurants.

Mrs Ip said the new club provided a quiet and pleasant resort with well-equipped facilities for disciplined services staff not only to undergo physical training while off-duty, but also to enrich their family life and social activities. This will greatly help staff relieve their job pressure and boost morale.

"With the provision of the new facilities, I am convinced that our disciplined services colleagues will work even harder to serve the community and continue their efforts to uphold the stability and peace of Hong Kong," she said.

Mrs Ip thanked the departments involved in the construction and preparation of the new club, in particular, the Architectural Services Department, the Government Supplies Department, and the DSSRC Steering Committee which comprised representatives from seven disciplined services, the Police Force Council and the Disciplined Services Consultative Council.

End/Friday, March 2, 2001

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