RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
Council has installed some innovative water equipment in the shallow pools of Chai Wan and Lei Cheng Uk swimming pools.
The Regional Council installed four new swimming pool complexes with coin-operated turnstiles for public use in 1992. They are at Sheung Shui, Sai Kung, Mui Wo and Hin Tin. Sheung Shui and Hin Tin pools are fitted with water slides and splash pools, which are very popular with youngsters.
The councils regularly organise learn-to-swim classes to promote water safety. During the year, over 1 820 swimming classes and training programmes were held for more than 40 500 people in the territory by the councils.
The councils also encourage the formation of life-guard clubs at their swimming venues. These clubs help maintain a steady supply of voluntary life-guards to augment the councils' regular life-guard service. At the end of the year, life-guard clubs operating in the Urban and Regional Council areas were 13 and eight respectively.
To bring the message of safe swimming to a wide spectrum of the public, the Urban Council again launched a water safety campaign in 1992. Major functions of the campaign included a water safety slogan competition which attracted 4 429 entries, a Water Design Competition in which 752 students took part, and a series of activities performed by the 'water safety ambassador' dressed in a dolphin outfit at the council's aquatic venues during the peak swimming season.
A package of safety measures was implemented by the Regional Council to enhance safety on beaches against any threat of shark attack, including distribution of an informa- tion leaflet and setting up of an additional lookout post at each Regional Council beach to provide a better view of the beach area and adjacent waters. In order to step up surveillance, the council secured assistance from Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force in deploying its light aircraft for shark patrol exercises for a period of three months during Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the swimming season.
Summer Youth Programme
The territory-wide Summer Youth Programme is organised each year for children and young people aged between six and 25. Social and recreational programmes and community service activities help them to develop their skills, appreciate human relationships, understand the community in which they live and enhance their sense of responsibility to the community.
In 1992 the Summer Youth Programme was officially launched on July 4, bearing the central theme Share the Fun, Serve the Community. About 13 684 activities were organised and 1.36 million young people took part between July and September. Over $34 million, of which $12.7 million was donated by the Jockey Club, went into the programme. The balance was made up by the government, district boards, Urban Council, Regional Council, private donations and participants' fees. A total of 22 outstanding volunteers were awarded Summer Youth Programme scholarships and attended training courses organised by the Outward Bound School.
Ocean Park
Located on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, Ocean Park is South East Asia's largest oceanarium and Hong Kong's premier theme park. Built on a site of 87 hectares, Ocean Park includes Middle Kingdom, a Chinese cultural village and Water World.
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