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RECREATION AND THE ARTS
LEISURE activities play an important part in improving the quality of life by making people's lives richer and more enjoyable.
With the completion of more recreational facilities, the people of Hong Kong have a wider choice as to how to spend their leisure time. A large number of them take part in or watch the many sporting events that are regularly held. Many others spend their weekends in the countryside, on beaches, or in swimming pools.
On the cultural side, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui on the tip of the Kowloon peninsula was opened by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales on November 8, 1989, celebrated with a month-long international arts festival. Administered by the Urban Council, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre represents a new landmark in Hong Kong's cultural scene and is expected to become a beacon for the performing arts in Asia.
With increasing public interest in cultural activities, the City Hall continues to be one of the centres of cultural life in Hong Kong.
As for other arts centres, the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre and the Sheung Wan Civic Centre were also well patronised during the year. Construction is nearing the final stages on a third community arts centre, the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, which should be com- pleted in mid-1990.
Urban Council
The Urban Council plays an important role in providing a wide range of recreational and cultural facilities in the urban areas of Hong Kong. The Urban Services Department, the executive arm of the Urban Council, manages a total open space of 575 hectares. Other than parks and playgrounds, major recreational facilities provided by the council include stadia, sports grounds, swimming pools, beaches, indoor games halls, tennis courts, squash courts, hockey grounds and football and rugby pitches.
Among the new facilities added to the council's extensive range of sporting and recreational venues in the last year are two free-standing indoor games halls in Chai Wan and Kowloon Park. These facilities bring to 28 the total number of indoor games halls provided in the urban areas. In addition, the second stage of the Carpenter Road Park and the first stage of the Lai Chi Kok Park were completed.
The new Kowloon Park, which is a $300 million project donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, was opened on February 1, 1989, by the Governor.
The completion of Kowloon Park marked a new era in the development of major parks by the council. The redeveloped park provides a wide range of interesting facilities for
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