RECREATION AND THE ARTS
277
by financial assistance from the government, the Urban Council, private donations and participants' fees. At the end of the summer months, seven outstanding volunteers were awarded Outward Bound scholarships and attended an 18-day course on board the vessel Ji Fung. The Jockey Club donated another $2.4 million for the setting up of permanent recreational facilities for young people.
The Summer Youth Programme Committee is responsible for co-ordinating the pro- gramme, advising on the appropriation of funds for the programme and the implementa- tion of the various activities. The District Co-ordinating Committees are responsible for the planning, implementation and allocation of funds for district activities.
Youth Hostels
The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association is a registered charity providing outdoor leisure opportunities for young people, particularly for the 18 to 26 age group.
The association runs a chain of eight hostels in Hong Kong, away from the urban areas and mostly situated in beautifully scenic places. Although three of the hostels are old buildings converted for use, the others are purpose-built and two have won architectural awards for design excellence.
Redevelopment work is being carried out at the hostel on Tai Mo Shan. A new dor- mitory and a communal facility block will be built to replace existing old buildings. The Sir Murray MacLehose Trust Fund has agreed to finance a major portion of the construction cost.
Water sport facilities for the hostel at Chek Keng, in the Sai Kung Peninsula are being planned so as to add a further attraction at this lovely site. The association is now looking for resources for this project.
Recurrent expenses of the association are met by membership fees and overnight charges. YHA membership also entitles holders to make use of over 5 000 youth hostels around the world: many members use this facility to travel widely, economically and safely.
Culture Division
The Culture Division of the Municipal Services Branch is responsible for the formulation and co-ordination of government's policies on culture. With the advice of the Council for the Performing Arts, it administers the disbursement of government subsidies to various performing arts bodies, and generally caters to the aspirations of the arts scene in Hong Kong.
The division also supervises the work of the Books Registration Office and the Antiquities and Monuments Office, and provides secretariat service to the Council for the Performing Arts as well as the Antiquities Advisory Board.
Council for the Performing Arts
The Council for the Performing Arts was established in 1982 to advise the government on the development and needs of performing arts in Hong Kong. It comprises 15 appointed and three official members.
On the advice of the council, five performing arts companies, namely, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society Limited, the Chung Ying Theatre Company, the Hong Kong Ballet Limited, the City Contemporary Dance Company and the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Limited, received general support grants totalling $16.25 million this year. In addition, $1.04 million was awarded to 13 local performing arts groups and individual artists as project grants.