efficient use of staff resources and facilities and to reduce the present over- crowding in government hospitals. There has been a mixed reaction to the proposal from some professional bodies and staff associations, but most. opinion expressed so far is in favour of the establishment of a Hospital Authority, provided the Hong Kong Government does not relinquish its commitment to medical and health services. The feasibility and resource implications of the report's recommendations will be further evaluated in the coming months.
(d) Environment
65. In recent years the Hong Kong Government has been intensifying its efforts to improve the physical environment and reduce pollution. A new Environmental Protection Department was established in April which will be responsible for all aspects of pollution control. Progress was also made in the formulation of legislation to control noise and to improve air quality. New regulations for controlling water pollution were made in June and, in order to reduce the pollution of stream courses which is presently being caused by the indiscriminate dumping of animal wastes, the Hong Kong Government an- nounced later in the year its intention to ban livestock keeping in the urban areas, and to institute strict controls in rural areas.
(e) Culture, Recreation and Sport
66. During the last ten years the people of Hong Kong have benefitted from major investment, by the Hong Kong Government, the Urban Council and organisations such as the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club in facilities for the arts and for recreation and sporting activities.
67. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts was officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent in February 1986. It already has 345 full-time students training in Chinese and western music, drama, dance and related technical arts. When fully developed, it will provide for 600 full-time students. Hong Kong already has eight cultural centres of different sizes and designs, and the Sha Tin and Tuen Mun Town Halls, each with a 1,400-seat auditorium, will open in 1987. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre with a 2,250-seat concert hall, a 1,860-seat grand theatre and a 500-seat studio theatre is under construction and due for completion in 1989.
68. Hong Kong also has some of the best sporting facilities in South East Asia, including modern stadia, multi-purpose games halls and swimming pool com- plexes. The Jubilee Sports Centre at Sha Tin provides excellent training facilities and expert coaching in a variety of sports.
(f) Broadcasting
69. After an extended period of public consultation on the recommendations contained in the report of the Broadcasting Review Board, the Hong Kong
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