RECREATION AND THE ARTS
199
The programme aimed to provide something for everyone with several new activities being introduced for the first time. Among the new events was a Music Camp for 200 young musicians where expert instruction was given in playing Chinese and Western instruments. However, the outdoor activities again proved to be the most popular – being made possible by a donation of $2.5 million from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, and additional funds from the government, the Urban Council, private donations and the participants themselves.
During the Chinese New Year, the Central Co-ordinating Committee for Youth Recreation arranged a further programme of recreational activities and entertainments in the districts and territory-wide.
Swimming
Swimming is Hong Kong's most popular summer recreation and there are 40 gazetted beaches. These comprise 12 beaches on Hong Kong Island, under the Urban Council's control, and 28 in the New Territories, managed by the New Territories Services Depart- ment. The beaches have life-guards, first-aid posts, changing rooms, showers and other facilities. The Urban Services Department also manages 10 swimming pool complexes in the urban areas for the Urban Council, while the New Territories Services Department manages two in the New Territories. The tenth swimming pool complex, the Chai Wan Swimming Pool and Park, was officially opened in May.
It is estimated that 24 million people visited the beaches and 4.5 million used the swimming pools during the swimming season. Thirteen new swimming pool complexes are being planned - one on Hong Kong Island, seven in Kowloon, and five in the New Territories. The addition of these facilities will help in further promoting the popular Age Group competitive swimming programme which is open to all young people under 17 years of age.
Youth Hostels
The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association is a charitable organisation providing leisure opportunities for young people. It maintains contact with similar organisations in other parts of the world through its membership of the International Youth Hostels Federation. Membership has shown a healthy growth rate during the past few years, with the majority of hostel users being young Hong Kong people aged 14 to 28 years. The associa- tion has so far established, and operates, six hostels in various parts of the Hong Kong countryside.
The association's most significant project during the year was starting work on a hostel to be built on the heights of Mount Davis on Hong Kong Island. The site overlooks Victoria Harbour and the surrounding waters of Hong Kong to the south and west. The Hong Kong Jockey Club donated $2.7 million to finance the project. In addition, the government granted a new site for a hostel at Mong Tung Wan on Lantau Island and negotiations are continuing for the grant of a further site in one of the Sai Kung country parks.
Outward Bound
Outward Bound celebrated two major events during the year completion of its first decade in Hong Kong, and the launching of The Outward Bound Trust's sail training ship, the Ji Fung.