I WAS surprised by the letter (South China Morning Post, November 4) in which it was mentioned that the Urban Council has 276 playgrounds in Hong Kong. The nearest playground I can take my children to is 12 kilometres away. I first wrote to the Tai Po District Office about the lack of playground facilities in the Sai Kung Country Park in 1993 and an excuse was made in February 1994 that because a site within our village area could not be identified (because the village representative had objected to the proposal), the plan had been shelved. I replied on February 21, 1994, that I just wanted a playground somewhere in the country park, not necessarily in our village and not necessarily on village land, and asked why a playground could not be built on country park land. I received no reply. I then wrote to the Sai Kung District Board, hoping that some board members would be sympathetic and, as expected, was advised that Sai Kung Country Park fell within the boundary of Tai Po. On the subject of boundaries, I think it is ridiculous that, just because in the old days our village and a few others were only accessible by boat from Sha Tin, it should come under the New Territories North constituency. When we vote, we have to vote for NT North. However, when I wanted to be treated at the Prince of Wales Hospital, I was told I was a Sai Kung resident and must go to a hospital in our district. Please will the relevant government departments reply to these two issues. SOPHIE FIRMIN Sai Kung
