RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
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 seven operational hostels, mostly away from the urban areas and in scenic spots. The association has over 32 000 members, who may make use of the 5 000 hostels throughout the world, enabling them to stay in economical accommodation of a good standard while travelling abroad.
The programme of upgrading accommodation continued throughout 1993. A number of small rooms were created at the existing hostels and these were furnished to higher standards and air-conditioned. The main event of the year was the opening, by the Governor of Hong Kong, of the new Bradbury Lodge Youth Hostel at Plover Cove. The hostel immediately enjoyed high occupation rates, largely due to the good transportation links and the many recreational facilities in the area.
Urban Council Parks
The Urban Council has an extensive building programme for large modern parks.
The first of these, Kowloon Park, features many special attractions including a sports complex with an ultra-modern Olympic pool, indoor and outdoor leisure pools and an air-conditioned indoor games hall. The park also contains a history museum, an aviary, a popular bird lake, a sculpture walk, a creative playground and a garden piazza for the staging of a wide range of cultural and entertainment activities.
A second major park located on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Park, was opened to the public in May 1991. It was constructed as a joint venture between the council and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, which donated $170 million of the total cost of $398 million. Among the park's facilities are the 3 000-square-metre walk-in Edward Youde Aviary, the Forsgate Conservatory and spectacular water features. The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware and Hong Kong Squash Centre are also part of the park. Educational activities are organised for school children in the park, with emphasis on conserving the natural environment and wild life resources.
The third major park development, Lei Yue Mun Park, occupies the historic site of the old Lyemun Barracks. The site was first developed by the council in 1987 as a holiday camp and activity centre. In view of its popularity, the council is providing more attractions in the park for visitors. One of the newly-added attractions is a horse-riding school funded and built by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Other attractions under planning include a museum, an indoor leisure centre and a free-form pool.
Kowloon Walled City Park
The Kowloon Walled City site will be developed into a Chinese-style landscaped garden with the restored yamen building as a focal point. Other attractions will include a chess garden, a pine mound, a rock garden, a piazza, a lily pond, a stone tablet garden and a children's playground. Relics of the Walled City, including two cannons, five stone inscriptions and three old wells, will be preserved at various locations inside the park. This park, to be managed by the Urban Council, will be integrated with the existing Carpenter Road Park to form a regional facility for local residents and tourists.
The project is being funded by the government at a cost of $59 million. Work on the park will start in early 1994 and is scheduled for completion by mid-1995.
373