Ne

Go to http://stedu.stheadline.com/eng-p
to listen to the news story and download the worksheet
(Click 'Teacher's Corner' for the worksheet)

in

Liberal Studies
Personal Development &
Interpersonal Relationships

Modern China

Globalisation

Public Health

Energy Technology &

the Environment

Hong Kong Today

ay

Tearful pleas to save homes

Pensioners appeal against Kwu Tung development

Senior citizens protest against the proposed demolition of an elderly care home in Sheung Shui.

(Sing Tao Daily)

ELFARE secretary Matthew

Cheung Kin-chung ()
was caught off-guard when
an elderly man kneeled before him.

) are situated at the centre of a government development plan for the northeastern
New Territories (). They house
about 950 elderly residents.

The man pleaded on Tuesday for the government not to demolish the Kwu Tung ( )
elderly care homes in Sheung Shui ().

Leung, who appeared on behalf of other

residents, told lawmakers, I hope Cheung will
let me live a good life with three stable meals
every day. If [the care home] is to be demolished, Ill become homeless.

The dramatic scene occurred during a

meeting of the Legislative Councils ()
welfare panel.
The plea by senior citizen surnamed Leung
seemed to have some effect as Cheung said
the construction planned for the area was not
urgent and the government would be flexible.
The care homes in Dills Corner Garden (

Another pensioner surnamed Wan from the

area said he lived a comfortable life in Dills Corner Garden. He became miserable when told
the government wanted to demolish his home.
As he spoke, Leung suddenly kneeled
down and begged Cheung, causing Wan to
break down in tears.

Key Idea
An elderly man kneeled down
before the welfare secretary
Matthew Cheung Kin-chung
during a meeting of the
Legislative Councils welfare
panel. The man pleaded for the
government not to demolish
the Kwu Tung elderly homes in
Sheung Shui. The care homes
where he lives are situated at
the centre of a government
development plan for the
northeastern New Territories.
Cheung said the area is not
urgently needed and the homes
can remain there for now.

Thursday 15 May 2014

Text : Anvil Ong
Photos : Sing Tao Daily

P03

Vocabulary

Reading Comprehension

M : Meaning

Choose the best answer:

1. Where did the man kneel before
Matthew Cheung?
A. outside the Legislative Council
B. at the Legislative Councils welfare
panel meeting
C. in the streets
D. at the Legco building entrance

2. How did Cheung react?

A. he said government plans cannot be
changed
B. he said the government would be
flexible
C. he did not respond
D. he apologised for the governments
decision

3. The government is planning to

develop _____.
A. the northeastern New Territories
B. the southeastern New Territories
C. the whole New Territories
D. old towns in the New Territories

Knowledge

4. How many old people living in

care homes will be affected by the
governments plan?
A. about 500
B. about 950
C. about 1,150
D. about 2,000

E : Example

1 off-guard (adj)
M: not prepared
E: The protesters change of course caught the
police off-guard.
E: The quiz last week caught most students offguard.

2 plead (v)

5. He is speaking on behalf ____ the

other residents.
A. as
B. of
C. to
D. no word is needed

M: ask for something that one wants very much,

in a sincere and emotional way
E: The thief pleaded for mercy when the police
caught him.
E: The mother pleaded with the kidnappers for
the release of her son.

3 demolish (v)
M: pull or knock down a building

6. The development plan is not

_____.
A. fast
B. swift
C. quick
D. urgent

E: The factory building will soon be demolished.

E: The government has plans to demolish all old
buildings in the district.

4 dramatic (adj)
M: sudden, and often surprising
E: He found it hard to deal will all the dramatic
changes.
Answers on P12

Kwu Tung North (), together with

Fanling North () and Ping Che/Ta
Kwu Ling (/) were identified as
suitable New Development Areas (
) earlier by a government study. The
areas will have a total population upon
full development comparable to other
new towns such as Tuen Mun () and
Tseung Kwan O ().

E: There have been dramatic improvements in

the healthcare system.

5 flexible (adj)
M: that can change or be changed easily to suit
any new situation
E: We are flexible about the fees we charge.
E: We finally found a more flexible approach.

6 stable (adj)
M: steady and not likely to move or change

LS in a nutshell

What is the New Development

Areas?

E: He lives a stable life in the countryside after

retirement.

Learning Card

It is one of the 10 major

infrastructure projects for economic
growth announced in the chief
executives 2007-08 Policy Address.

E: The country is politically stable.

7 miserable (adj)
M: very unhappy
E: The gambler now leads a miserable life.
E: He looked miserable after being scolded by
the teacher.