RECREATION
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An innovation this year was the introduction of rural observation and service teams. Three groups of young people, under the guidance of the Social Welfare Department, ‘adopted' three rural villages. The young visitors lodged with individual families. In the mornings they helped out with farm work, while afternoons were spent in a study of the way of life of the village, its history, economic and social conditions and the needs of the residents.
As a result of these and similar activities, many of the young people expressed interest in further active community service. At least 10 groups sought the advice of departmental staff in setting up permanent community service clubs.
The need to sustain an imaginative programme of recreation is well appreciated and the necessity for providing increased oppor- tunities for outdoor leisure was reflected in the recommendations of the Provisional Council for the Use and Conservation of the Countryside which reported in July. This report is still under official examination.
ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ARTS
While the cinema remains the most popular diversion, the per- forming arts now play an important part in the cultural life of Hong Kong. The centre of these activities which include concerts, plays and operas both Western and Chinese, is the City Hall, which had another year of intensive and varied usage in 1968.
The facilities at the City Hall, which was opened in 1962, include a 1,500-seat concert hall convertible for use for theatrical per- formances, an intimate 470-seat theatre, a museum, an art gallery and several halls and rooms for exhibitions, lectures and conferences. Most of the facilities are available for hire throughout the year and both local performers and overseas artists are presented regularly in the two major auditoria. As a result, nearly every branch of music, drama and Chinese opera has flourished.
The City Hall is administered under policy decisions of the Urban Council and engages artists regularly to give performances of serious music. In 1968, these included the Hong Kong Philhar- monic Orchestra which gave six public performances in the Concert Hall, several other local groups and artists including the Hong