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RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
Adventure Ship
Adventure Ship 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 disabled, outreach teams and schools benefit from the training programmes offered. They consist of day or overnight trips (up to three days and two nights) within the waters of Hong Kong. The ship can accommodate 60 youngsters on day trips and 50 on overnight voyages.
'Disciplined Entertainment' is the main theme of the training. Once on board, participants are regarded as members of the ship's crew and take part in the operational routines. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, they are trained to face new challenges and participate in team spirit building activities.
The training programmes have been devised to cope with various weather conditions and the special requirements of children of different aptitudes and backgrounds. The Adventure Ship project has created new horizons for many thousands of young people, enabling them to enrich their experience while visiting and discovering the beautiful scenery in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association
The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association (HKYHA) marked its 25th anniversary in 1998. Over the past quarter century, it has been committed to promoting love and care for the countryside by providing budget, but clean and comfortable, accommodation in scenic rural parts of Hong Kong. By issuing an internationally recognised membership, the HKYHA also promotes cultural exchange by means of travel. HKYHA membership entitles members to use facilities of more than 4 500 youth hostels in over 60 countries.
As at the end of 1998, around 35 000 individual members and 900 organisation members were enrolled with the Association.
The HKYHA is a non-profit-making, non-political and non-religious organisation affiliated to the International Youth Hostel Federation. The association provides facilities and services to all irrespective of race, creed or gender. It is managed by an Executive Committee comprising responsible and enthusiastic personalities in the local community. Being a non-government-subvented charity, the association is entirely dependent upon the support of members and well wishers for its day to day financial health.
The association runs seven youth hostels in Hong Kong, namely: Ma Wui Hall in Mt. Davis, Hong Kong Island; Bradbury Lodge in Tai Mek Tuk, North-East New Territories; Bradbury Hall in Chek Keng, Sai Kung Country Park; Pak Sha O Youth Hostel in Pak Sha O, Sai Kung; Sze Lok Yuen in Tai Mo Shan; and, on Lantau Island, The S G Davis Hostel in Ngong Ping and Jockey Club Mong Tung Wan Hostel in Mong Tung Wan, Chi Ma Wan Peninsula.