RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
352
Hong Kong Outward Bound School
The Hong Kong Outward Bound School (HKOBS) is a registered charity established in 1970. It belongs to an international network of over 40 schools in different countries. Outward Bound world-wide has more than 50 years of professional experience in outdoor experiential education. Its mission is to stimulate personal development and generate understanding between people.
In addition to open enrolment courses for the general public, HKOBS operates special programmes for the handicapped, socially-deprived people and juvenile delinquents as well as employees of major corporations, various organisations and the government.
Being supported by the community and for the community, the School offers generous subsidies to individuals with genuine financial needs. The continuous financial commitment from the Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Bureau has enabled more Hong Kong youths to attend Outward Bound training. The bursary scheme donated by the Standard Chartered Foundation has given more than 100 disadvantaged young girls the opportunity to come on the 18-day courses in the next three years.
On May 24, the HKOBS's 132-foot brigantine, Ji Fung, returned home after her successful participation in the first sail training tall ships' race in the Northern Pacific Sail Osaka '97. Hundreds of people lined the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to cheer the award-winning crew and ship.
The race was over 2 600 kilometres (1 400 nautical miles) from Hong Kong via Okinawa and Kagoshima to Osaka, Ji Fung, meaning 'Spirit of Resolution', took all her competitors by surprise from the start of the race. After nearly a month at sea, she concluded her historic voyage as Overall Winner in Class AII/B; the fastest tall ship to finish the entire race; Best Sail Training Ship; the only vessel carrying out a community service project; and the only tall ship to cross the Osaka finish line under sail.
Many of the 108 crew members were under 25 years of age with little sailing experience. Some had received individual and corporate sponsorships to participate. Outward Bound activities in Mainland China continue to progress satisfactorily. HKOBS has run numerous courses at the Bank of China International Finance Training Centre in Qingyuan. During the latter half of the year, a China Development Fund was established through a donation to further the development of Outward Bound in the Mainland.
Adventure Ship
This year, the Adventure Ship Project celebrated its 20th year of operation in Hong Kong. It is a registered charity which maintains the 27.5-metre Chinese sailing junk, Huan, providing nautical training programmes for underprivileged and handicapped children. Adventure Ship is a member of the Hong Kong Council of Social Services and is funded mainly by the Community Chest and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Each year, more than 6 000 young people from child and youth centres, institutions for the handicapped, outreach teams and schools benefit from the training programmes offered. They consist of day or overnight trips (up to three days and two