Chapter 21: Sport and Recreation
READERS of the 1958 Report will recall that Hong Kong sent a large contingent to the Third Asian Games in Tokyo and also sent a team to compete in the Sixth Empire Games at Cardiff. There was no major event of this nature in 1959, and local sports organizations were able to prepare for the XVII Olympiad which will take place in Rome in 1960. The latest information is that there will be local entries in shooting, swimming and weight lifting events.
Most field sports take place during the winter months when the weather is comparatively cool and dry; and winter is the racing season also. During the summer the emphasis is on aquatic sports such as swimming, water skiing and boating.
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Athletics clubs had full programmes throughout the year and made serious efforts to increase the popularity of their particular activities. The Hong Kong Badminton Association celebrated its twenty fifth anniversary during the year, and a local team took part in the competitions for the Asian Zone of the Uber Cup in Malaya. Mr. Hashim Khan, one of the world's leading squash players, played several exhibition matches during a visit to the Colony. Lawn tennis standards are rising and local interest in the game was stimulated by the visit of such top-ranking international players as Ham Richardson, Alex Olmedo, Budge Patty and Barry Mackay who were invited to the Colony by the local Association.
The Services provide the main support for boxing in the Colony, although the Amateur Boxing Association encourages civilian par- ticipation and is arousing growing interest. Several clubs conduct classes in fencing and exhibitions were given by visiting fencers from Japan.
Though there was no particularly outstanding event during the year, both Association and Rugby football clubs played off fixtures in the course of annual league and shield tournaments and the former sent many teams to play matches abroad besides receiving visiting teams from Asia and Europe. Miniball has the advantage