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Providing for the people
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The range of cultural events, entertainment programmes and public amenities provided for the people of Hong Kong is continuing to grow. This is due largely to the vigorous efforts of the Urban Council, whose many different functions enhance the fabric of everyday life in the urban areas. The council comprises both elected and ap- pointed members of the community. Its policies, development schemes and muni- cipal services are put into effect by the 18,900-strong Urban Services Department, the second largest government department. Tasks carried out extend from the daily protection of public health through street cleaning, for example to planning and managing markets, libraries, theatres, museums, swimming pools, sports grounds, parks and other open spaces. The council also has played a leading role in the development of the arts in the 1970s through its administration of the City Hall, Hong Kong's foremost and oldest cultural centre, located on the waterfront in Central district. In 1977, the City Hall was the scene of the second highly- successful Festival of Asian Arts - a. venture the council pioneered in 1975. In addition, a year-round programme of free public entertainment is staged every evening in one or other of the urban districts. The council is combining with the government to build a new cultural complex now taking shape in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Previous page: A Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, one of the many events on the free, open-air entertainment programme provided by the Urban Council, adds a fairly-tale touch to Victoria Purk. Left (from top): Staff at the Museum of History open a time capsule dating from 1897; models of fishing junks on display at the museum; Shek Wan pottery exhibition presented as part of the Festival of Asian Arts.
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