RECREATION AND THE ARTS
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This well-established civic centre is the major venue for the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Festival of Asian Arts, both staged by the Urban Council, and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Cultural and entertainment presentations by the Urban Council's performing companies and various cultural organisations are also staged in the City Hall round the year.
Facilities provided by the City Hall complex are housed in the High Block and the Low Block, connected by a memorial garden. The Low Block has a 1 488-seat Concert Hall, a 467-seat Theatre, an Exhibition Hall and both Chinese and Western restaurants.
In 1986, some 518 300 people enjoyed 1035 performances at the Concert Hall, the Theatre and the Recital Hall and a total of 122 exhibitions were presented at the Exhibition Hall and the Exhibition Gallery.
Town Halls
The completion of Sha Tin Town Hall in October marked another milestone in the promotion of cultural activities in the Regional Council area. Five civic centres are now being managed by the council. The other four are Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Lut Sau Hall in Yuen Long, North District Town Hall in Sheung Shui and Tai Po Civic Centre. Another civic centre, Tuen Mun Town Hall which is similar in design to the Sha Tin Town Hall, is being built and will be ready next year.
The Sha Tin Town Hall is located on a convenient site between the Sha Tin Railway Station and the Shing Mun River. Its main feature is a 1 424-seat multi-purpose audito- rium, including an enlarged 323-square metre stage, two side stages, and an orchestra pit. The Tsuen Wan Town Hall is the first cultural complex in the Regional Council area. The Lut Sau Hall, North District Town Hall and Tai Po Civic Centre each has an auditorium for about 800 people and a rehearsal room or dance studio.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Funded by the government and the Urban Council, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is being constructed in phases on a choice waterfront site at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula. In the first phase, the Hong Kong Space Museum was completed in 1980. Work on the second phase - which includes a 2 250-seat Concert Hall, a 1 860-seat Grand Theatre, a Studio Theatre for 500, an Arts Library, administrative offices and two restaurants – began in November 1984 and will be completed in late 1989.
Aberdeen Civic Centre
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The Aberdeen Civic Centre, on the fifth floor of the Urban Council Aberdeen Complex, is basically intended to be a district cultural facility. It has a 160-seat Cultural Activities Hall, an Exhibition Hall which also serves as a rehearsal room, a Conference Room, two music practice rooms and ancillary facilities suitable for a wide variety of small-scale cultural performances and community activities such as recital, dance, drama, chamber music, mime shows, rehearsals, exhibitions, lectures, meetings and receptions.
During the year, 238 activities were held there.
Community Arts Centre
To promote arts and culture at community level, the Urban Council provides a reasonable geographical spread of community arts centres in the urban area. A community arts centre normally comprises a 450-seat auditorium for performances, rehearsal and practice facilities, an exhibition hall and a visual arts studio.