CHAPTER 20 RECREATION, SPORTS
AND THE ARTS
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RECREATION, sport and cultural activities enhance the quality of life in Hong Kong. The government aims to create an environment in which diversity, freedom of expression, artistic creativity and sporting excellence can thrive.
The major statutory sporting and cultural bodies have continued to implement plans for the development of their respective fields into the next century.
To promote the development of the arts, the government set up the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in June 1995 as a statutory body to advise on matters concerning arts policy and to plan for the broad development of the arts. The second year in the implementation of the council's Five-Year Strategic Plan came during 1997-98. Over the year, the council worked closely with the major arts bodies to promote arts development and supported numerous arts projects to help budding artists.
In 1998, the government continued to distribute grants from the $300 million Arts and Sport Development Fund to help the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Hong Kong Sports Development Board (SDB) implement the initiatives in their strategic plans up to the year 2001. From April 1, 1998, the government's annual allocation to the SDB increased by $87.4 million, mainly to help the Hong Kong Sports Institute to continue training local athletes to international standards, in accordance with the revised elite training programme for local athletes devised by the institute on the recommendation of an international sports consultancy.
Hong Kong residents have access to a wide range of leisure activities, many of which were provided in 1998 by the Provisional Urban and Regional Councils. They build and operate games halls, sports grounds, swimming pools, parks, museums, libraries and other cultural and recreational venues. They also organise and support a host of cultural, sporting and recreational programmes and events.
The government's policies on recreation, sport, culture and heritage matters are co- ordinated by the Home Affairs Bureau headed by the Secretary for Home Affairs. He is assisted by several expert bodies, including the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Antiquities Advisory Board and the Hong Kong Sports Development Board. Many other individuals and associations also play a role in creating and improving opportunities for leisure activities.
The Arts
Hong Kong's dynamic lifestyle and cosmopolitan outlook, blending the best of East and West, provide local artists with an abundant supply of new ideas on which to
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