RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
fees. A total of 24 outstanding volunteers were awarded Summer Youth Programme scholarships and attended training courses organised by the Outward Bound School and other institutions.
Ocean Park
Located on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, Ocean Park is Southeast Asia's largest oceanarium and Hong Kong's premier theme park. Built on a site of 87 hectares, Ocean Park also includes Water World and Middle Kingdom, a Chinese cultural village.
More than three million people visited Ocean Park in 1993, while total attendance since the park opened in 1977 passed the 37-million mark.
Built on hilly land, the headland and lowland areas of Ocean Park are linked by a cable car system, and from the Tai Shue Wan entrance at Middle Kingdom by a 225-metre covered outdoor escalator.
In the summer of 1993, Ocean Park opened its newest attraction, Kids' World. Featuring family rides, games, shows, two creative play areas and a Dolphin University, the facility is built for the enjoyment of the whole family, especially children.
The $30 million Ocean Park Tower built as part of the park's $600 million five-year expansion plan that runs through to 1997 — is the tallest observation tower in Asia. The tower was opened in 1992 to mark the park's 15th anniversary. Seventy-two metres tall and 200 metres above sea level, it offers a 360-degree bird's eye view of Hong Kong and the nearby harbours and islands.
In the headland area, there are six exciting rides. Marineland includes a 3 500-seat ocean theatre staging regular shows featuring the killer whale, dolphins and sealions; the newly-renovated wave cove has sealions, seals and penguins; and a $40-million shark aquarium is home to more than 80 sharks of 20 species. In addition, a new-look atoll reef
exhibiting more than 5 000 fish - will re-open after its $50 million renovation.
In the lowland gardens are the goldfish pagoda with over 100 species of goldfish; a butterfly house with 1 500 butterflies; a greenhouse complex and the new Kids' World.
Water World is the first and largest water playpark in Asia. It has two main pools, three 'fun' slides and a Lazy River. Water World has attracted more than three million swimmers since it opened in 1984.
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Middle Kingdom recreates 5 000 years of Chinese history in 13 dynasties with temples, shrines, pavilions, pagodas and palaces. It features theatrical cultural performances, street demonstrations in Chinese arts and crafts, acrobatic and kung fu shows and lion dances.
In addition, the aviaries house more than 2 000 birds of 150 species. There is also a bird theatre, a parrot garden and a flamingo pond.
Outward Bound School
The Outward Bound Trust of Hong Kong Limited is a private registered charity and part of a worldwide network of 31 schools, providing training programmes for personal and professional development in an outdoor adventure environment on land and sea.
The purpose of the courses is to enhance in the individual self-confidence, resource- fulness, leadership, communication skills and personal effectiveness. In addition to open courses for the general public, special programmes are run for the handicapped, socially-deprived and juvenile delinquents, as well as employees of major corporations, smaller businesses, senior government officers, and teachers.
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