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RECREATION AND THE ARTS
catered for 7 150 participants in 276 programmes in the nine months from its opening in March 1981. A third Fitness Centre was opened in Tuen Mun New Town in September.
In order to meet the increasing demand for outdoor activities, more permanent facilities are being planned: the West Sea Cofferdam Water Sports Centre; Hong Kong's first purpose-built outdoor recreation centre at Tso Kung Tam Park; and fitness centres in housing estates are being considered.
The service's 19 district offices initiate and develop programmes for all age and ability groups at district level. Particular emphasis was placed on providing better opportunities for the public to take part in recreational programmes and on helping the community to make maximum use of available sporting facilities. Regional and district officers also contributed to the new district administration policies by helping to identify the needs for recreation and sporting activities and in co-ordinating balanced programmes with voluntary organisations.
Its technical and planning section organised 125 pilot programmes including synchron- ised swimming and five-a-side soccer, catering for some 21 000 people. It also liaised with sports bodies in organising training courses for coaches, instructors and officials as well as giving technical advice on the organisation of sporting events.
During 1981 the service organised 6 904 projects for 530 629 participants with funds. provided by government, the Urban Council, district boards, commercial sponsors and community leaders. Commercial sponsorship alone reached a record of more than $2 million. Joint projects with the Urban Council came to some 282 during the year, and 1 159 activities were funded jointly with district boards in the New Territories.
Summer Youth Programme
The ever-popular Summer Youth Programme, arranged by the Central Co-ordinating Committee for Youth Recreation, remains the largest annual series of events for youth with about 8 000 events being organised with two million participants. At a cost of some $9.6 million, the programme was financed by a $3 million donation from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club its main supporter since 1969 - government and Urban Council funds, private donations and participants fees.
A survey on the 13th Summer Youth Programme was conducted in September with the help of the Census and Statistics Department to assess the programme and to identify the preferences of young people taking part. The survey report, which was issued in December, will be carefully studied to form the basis for planning future programmes.
In support of the 'International Year of the Disabled', a large number of activities suitable for the disabled were incorporated into the year's programme. The organisers' aim continued to be to involve as many young people as possible, while maintaining a high standard of events so that participation is both challenging and interesting.
The Countryside
Hong Kong's easily accessible countryside is a valuable recreational resource to meet one of the principal needs of its population. Every morning, city-dwellers walk to nearby woodlands and open spaces on the urban fringes for physical exercise; every weekend and on public holidays, people of all ages ramble across the hills and through the wooded valleys of the more remote areas seeking a relaxing change of pace.
To cater for the growing interest in outdoor recreation, provision was made in 1976 for the more scenic areas of countryside to be set apart as country parks under a new Country Parks Ordinance. Since then, 21 country parks covering about 40 per cent (40 833 hectares)