340
RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
traditional Chinese garden with pavilions, pai laus, water features and extensive landscaped areas; Sai Wan Ho Playground; Chai Wan Park Extension; Western Park; Harcourt Garden; and Wan Chai Park. They offer a wide range of active and passive recreational facilities for people of different ages.
In Kowloon two major projects were completed in Kwun Tong district: Laguna Park with a traditional Chinese garden providing a pleasant tranquil spot for local residents and Lam Wah Street Playground with a five-a-side soccer pitch. Other completed projects in Kowloon included two children's play areas in Muk Lun Street Playground and Lai Chi Kok Park. The new Lok Fu Recreation Ground comprises a full-size synthetic grass soccer-cum-hockey pitch and a landscaped park.
Apart from providing new facilities the Urban Council also continues to upgrade its existing facilities. During the year, Southorn Playground and the bowling greens of Victoria Park were improved and upgraded, while ball games areas at Tsz Wan Shan service reservoir were resurfaced and extended. Spectator stands providing 10 000 additional seats were also installed at Aberdeen Sports Ground to facilitate the holding of school athletic meets.
Regional Council
Under the auspices of the Regional Council, over 355 500 people took part in 5300 training courses, competitions and recreation programmes, including water sports, ball games, racquet games, athletics, archery, fencing, cycling, gymnastics, multigym-fitness and dancing. Region-wide activities, such as the International Sand Sculpture Competition, the Kite Flying Carnival and the Sports Carnival for the Elderly were well received with more than 7 500 participants.
Two highly popular schemes were launched in 1992: one aimed at developing ballet skills as a form of recreation and sport activity for youngsters; while the other provided opportunities for participants and school children to watch demonstrations by professional basketball players. About 240 youngsters aged eight to 20 joined a ballet development scheme co-organised with the Hong Kong Ballet and sponsored by Wai Yin Club. They attended a four-phase training programme, comprising a 27-week training course, a five-day training camp and an open performance, which lasted from September 1992 to April 1993.
The council appreciates the special needs of the disabled in sports. In 1992, a total subsidy of $265,000 was granted to voluntary agencies to organise 90 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 1992 subsidies of $3 million were allocated to 165 projects, benefiting 139 500 people.
During the year, the council held training courses for some 240 instructors in various sports.
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 1992, $11 million was allocated to the organisation of 5 140 district programmes which drew 216 000 participants.
The council took part in the Sports Expo '92 organised in July by Hong Kong Trade Development Council and various sports promotion bodies at Hong Kong Sports Institute in Sha Tin. The many water based facilities of the council were presented to visitors.