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Recreation and The Arts
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HONG KONG people today are able to take part in a richer and more diverse range of recreational activities in their leisure time than ever before. Practically every sporting activity has its share of devotees with better opportunities for participation, while the exodus to the countryside and beaches at weekends and holiday times has been given greater impetus through shorter working hours and improved standards of living. As a cultural leader in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong holds thousands of events throughout the year, ranging from traditional Cantonese opera and puppet shows to performances of ballet, theatre and orchestral music - often featuring internationally-renowned performers. Funds and facilities for these pursuits, as well as further training and coaching opportunities for young sportsmen and women and students of the arts, have been made available largely by the government, the Urban Council, governing sports bodies, volun- tary associations and many public and private organisations.
1983 was again a year of expansion. A highlight of the year was the completion in April of the Hong Kong Coliseum on the harbourfront at Hung Hom. With seating for 12 500 and a 41-square-metre arena - large enough to stage a five-a-side soccer tournament – the Coliseum is one of the finest stadia in Asia.
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In May, the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, opened the Recreation and Culture Department's Chong Hing Water Sports Centre at the west dam of High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung which can provide facilities for up to 12 000 day visitors and 3 000 residentia campers a year. Also officially opened during the year was the $40-million swimming poo. at Yuen Long, the fourth multi-million dollar swimming complex under the management of the New Territories Services Department.
After two years of construction and at a cost of $50 million, the curtain was raised in March on one of the Urban Council's newest and biggest projects, the Ko Shan Road park and theatre complex. Work on the $370-million Academy for Performing Arts, under construction on the Wan Chai waterfront, continued. The construction of the academy is being financed by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club which, in line with its tradition of encouraging the development of the arts, also donated $5 million to the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's endowment fund during the year.
In October, Hong Kong played host to 28 leaders in the arts and education from 14 Commonwealth countries for the Third Conference of Commonwealth Arts Administra- tors. With a theme entitled Arts and Education, the conference considered ways to link the development of the arts with national educational systems and the role of a Commonwealth forum to encourage co-operation in the arts.
While the Urban Council concentrates on the provision and management of facilities and the presentation of culture and entertainment programmes, the government's Recreation and Culture Department organises group activities and training at the district level. There
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