RECREATION
199
During the year a number of recreational facilities of a type not previously known in Hong Kong were completed: A rest garden for the blind at Pok Fu Lam containing scented plants with Braille labels; two obstacle golf courses at Shek O beach and Kowloon Tsai Park and a sculpture playground at Shek Lei resettlement estate, Kwai Chung. Construction of Hong Kong's first 'safety town', designed to teach road safety, was started at Sau Mau Ping resettlement estate. Preparation of the first stage of Kowloon Park continued, the Yuen Long Sports Ground was completed and detailed planning undertaken for a proposed indoor stadium at Hung Hom.
Swimming continued to be one of the most popular pastimes in summer and the existing public swimming pools at Victoria Park and Kowloon Tsai registered more than 1.49 million admissions during the year. Public bathing beaches were equally popular. Regular life- saving services continued to be provided by the Urban Services Department and, at the height of the season, teams from the St John Ambulance Brigade and the Hong Kong Life Guard Club, as in previous years, attended the swimming pools and the more popular beaches. Two major groups of swimming pools at Lei Cheng Uk and Kwun Tong are due to be completed this year. Another swimming pool is now being built at Morse Park. Planning is also now under way for new swimming pools at Hung Hom, Morrison Hill and Tsuen Wan.
During the year well over 100,000 trees, shrubs and seasonal flowers were planted in parks, playgrounds and other public places. An illustrated booklet 'Hong Kong Trees', produced by the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department, was published in August as the first in a series to assist members of the public in the identification and fuller enjoyment of local flora.
The Urban Council, working through the Urban Services Depart- ment, builds and administers recreational facilities in the urban areas. In the New Territories, this responsibility rests with the Director of Urban Services working closely with the District Com- missioner. The Recreation and Amenities Division of the Urban Services Department now manages a total of 1,347 acres of public open space. Appendix XL shows the facilities provided and their increase in recent years.