RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
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Urban Council
The Urban Council manages a wide range of sports and runs numerous low-cost introductory courses to encourage people of all ages to take part in active recreation. The council encourages and promotes sporting activities by subsidising competitions organised by the various governing bodies.
On Hong Kong Island, the Urban Council Shek Tong Tsui Complex in the Western District, which includes an indoor games hall, was completed in 1991. Additionally, an open space comprising a basketball court, a children's playground and a sitting-out area was provided in Third Street. The Chai Wan swimming pool in the Eastern District has been installed with leisure equipment. Another recreational project completed in the district during the year is a 7-a-side mini-soccer pitch at Java Road. Another mini-soccer pitch and a children's play area have been provided on the deck of Ap Lei Chau Service Reservoir. The Morrison Hill Road Garden in Wan Chai provides a mixture of active and passive recreational facilities, including a cycling track, a garden and a children's playground.
In Kowloon, two new indoor games halls have been opened, one as part of the Kwun Chung Complex in Yau Ma Tei, and the other inside the new Housing Authority Headquarters at Ho Man Tin. Major parks and playgrounds completed and opened to the public in the year included Mong Kok Road Playground (with a children's play area and extensive sitting areas) and Hutchison Park in Hung Hom, the latter comprising an extensive landscaped area with water features in the style of a traditional Chinese garden. - Two existing venues, Mong Kok Stadium and Boundary Street Sports Ground were
extensively rebuilt and upgraded. Lam Tin Park was also completed during the year. Regional Council
Under the auspices of the Regional Council, over 339 100 people took part in 5 928 training courses, competitions and recreation programmes, including water sports, ball games, racquet games, athletics, archery, fencing, cycling, gymnastics, multigym-fitness and dancing.
The council appreciates the special needs of the disabled in sports. In 1991, a total subsidy of $173,520 was granted to voluntary agencies to organise 93 sporting events for the physically and mentally handicapped.
A Sports Subsidy Scheme has been in operation since 1986 to encourage sports associations to organise competitions, training courses and spectator events. During 1991, subsidies of $2.6 million were allocated to 158 projects, benefiting 137 500 people.
During the year, the Regional Council held training courses for some 130 instructors in windsurfing, camping and fitness coaching.
As a catalyst to the promotion of sports and recreational events at the district level, a variety of programmes including basic training courses, camping, excursions, competitions and fun days were mounted in each of the nine districts in the Regional Council area. In 1991, $8.2 million was allocated to the organisation of 5 770 district programmes which drew 201 600 participants.
In co-operation with sports associations, the council also launched pilot schemes to introduce new types of sports like artificial-wall climbing, duathlon and indoor rowing. Sporting and Recreational Venues
In 1991, 21 new sporting and recreation venues were completed in the Regional Council area. These brought the total number of venues to 25 indoor recreation centres, 10