RECREATION
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are members of privately run clubs whose only assistance from public funds consists of a short-term lease of land on special terms. But for the majority of people the opportunity to take part in sports which require special facilities depends on the provision of government amenities.
The development and management of parks, playgrounds and other amenities in the urban area is vested in the Urban Council, working through the Urban Services Department. In the New Territories, these functions are the responsibility of the Urban Services Department, working closely with the District Commis- sioner.
Despite the intense competitive demands for land in the built-up areas, various sites were acquired during the year for development as public open space to provide more and better recreational facilities. The Urban Council now has under its administration 183 areas of parks, playgrounds and gardens covering 381.21 acres of land, together with two Olympic standard swimming pools and 12 public bathing beaches in the urban areas. They range from large areas such as the 57-acre Victoria Park and the 37-acre Kow- loon, Tsai Park to numerous smaller playgrounds, gardens and amenity plots scattered throughout the urban area. Between them they provide recreational facilities which include 16 pitches for soccer, hockey and rugby; 37 mini-soccer pitches; 117 courts for basketball, volleyball and badminton; 22 tennis courts; two squash courts; two bowling greens; two running tracks; two bandstands; three model boat pools; a roller skating rink; 60 children's play- grounds and six children's libraries.
Among the projects completed during the year were a 25-acre park at Lion Rock, a five-acre playground at Wang Tau Hom resettlement estate, a second playground at Tung Tau resettlement estate, and a garden at Bowen Road. Work was in progress at the end of the year on another 15 projects. In the New Territories, the Urban Services Department now administers 83 parks, play- grounds and gardens covering an area of 179.62 acres. A four-acre playground at Sha Tsui Road in Tsuen Wan was completed and opened by the District Commissioner in April and another 11 projects were completed during the year.
Hong Kong's 30 public bathing beaches (12 in the urban areas and 18 in the New Territories) are extremely popular and it is