RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
Outward Bound School
The Hong Kong Outward Bound School is a private registered charity of a worldwide network of 35 such schools, providing land and sea-based training programmes for personal and professional development.
The purpose of each course is to improve the trainees' self-confidence, resourcefulness, leadership, communication skills and personal effectiveness. Trainees include employees of major corporations and smaller businesses, senior government officers, teachers, social workers, students as well as the handicapped and socially deprived.
Training is held on the school's twin-masted training ship, the brigantine Ji Fung (Spirit of Resolution), and at the residential base in Tai Mong Tsai, Sai Kung as well as of the Sir Murray MacLehose Training Base in Mirs Bay.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition by corporations that the courses are an effective team building and training strategy for older adults, resulting in a continuous increase in demand for 'team building', ‘adult challenge', and special 'contract'
courses.
In 1991, the school operated a total of over 150 courses for over 3 700 trainees and for more than 31 000 trainee programme days and in June, the school participated in the International Outward Bound Conference in Wales, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the worldwide organisation.
Projects have been carried out to upgrade buildings, grounds and facilities at the Tai Mong Tsai main base and plans are being developed for an additional 36-bed self-sustaining facility in Ah Kung Wan.
Adventure Ship
The Adventure Ship Huan has been providing underprivileged and handicapped young people in Hong Kong with skill and character training through sailing, for almost 15 years. Since 1977, about 60 000 young people have benefited from Adventure Ship programmes.
Huan is a 27.5 metre, three-masted Chinese junk, one of the largest sailing junks in the world.
Adventure Ship Limited is a registered charity largely supported by the Community Chest and the Jockey Club. Volunteers provide their services free to the organisation enabling training activities to be provided at a fraction of their real cost. As a result, thousands of young people are able to participate in activities which, otherwise, they could not afford to enjoy.
Youth Hostels
The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association is a registered charity providing outdoor leisure opportunities for young people, particularly the 18 to 26 age group although members may be of any age. The association has six operational hostels, mostly away from the urban areas and in scenic places. A seventh hostel is being built at Plover Cove with the aid of a grant from the Bradbury Trust.
The association has over 32 000 members, who may make use of the 5 000 hostels throughout the world, thus being able to stay in economical accommodation of a good standard while travelling abroad.
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