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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)'s Siu Sai Wan Promenade was officially opened today (October 31) to provide residents with a place of leisure and recreational facilities for enjoyment.

Officiating at the opening ceremony were the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Shelley Lee Lai-kuen; the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Pau Shiu-hung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah; and the Chairman of Eastern District Council, Ms Christina Ting Yuk-chee.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Shelley Lee Lai-kuen, remarked, "The LCSD is committed to providing quality leisure and sports facilities as well as organising a wide range of related activities. Members of the public are encouraged to take part in those activities so as to establish a habit of doing regular exercises, thus promoting the culture of "sport-for-all"."

She added, "Together with other LCSD projects in the district, including the Aldrich Bay Promenade and sitting-out area of the Chai Wan Temporary Market which will be completed in mid-2003 and early 2004 respectively, offers better leisure enjoyable environment for the residents in Eastern District."

The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah, also said that the Promenade will provide a variety of leisure and recreational facilities to cater for the various interests of different age groups.

The opening ceremony was commemorated by unveiling a plaque and followed by a tour of the facilities in the promenade.

Costing approximately $70 million, the Siu Sai Wan Promenade, which was completed in the middle of this year, covers an area of 2.7 hectares. It is one of the LCSD's large-scale projects providing a range of leisure facilities in the district.

Major leisure facilities in the promenade include a seven-a-side mini-soccer pitch, two fitness stations, a children's playground, sitting-out areas as well as the promenade. The seven-a-side mini soccer pitch is not only a venue for training courses, but it is also an ideal place for staging outdoor district-based events and activities.

With the planting of flora and trees to beautify the environment, the Siu Wai Wan Promenade provides a greening area for the urban dwellers. The park-goers can also enjoy a scenic route along the promenade, which is opposite to Tseung Kwan O and Fat Tong Chau.

End/Thursday, October 31, 2002

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