RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
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included recreation and sports events, and cultural and artistic performances, and in all the events attracted about 300 000 participants.
The council also staged festive celebrations to mark the Lantern Festival, Mid- Autumn Festival, National Day and New Year's Eve. These events provided opportunities for the public to take part in the traditional cultural and recreational activities marking these festivals. In 1999, a total of nine celebration programmes were held, attracting 200 000 participants.
District Festivals Subsidy Scheme
The District Festivals Subsidy Scheme helps district-based organisations to stage public recreation, sports and cultural activities. Programmes include arts festivals, sports festivals, dragon boat races, National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations and Lunar New Year carnivals. During the year, the nine districts under the council's jurisdiction were allocated $23.4 million in support of 74 district festival celebrations for the enjoyment of over 2 000 000 people.
Sports and Cultural Venues
Many of the venues which host sporting and cultural events were built and managed by the Provisional Urban and Regional Councils. These venues include major facilities such as the Hong Kong Stadium and Hong Kong Cultural Centre, as well as neighbourhood recreation grounds and community arts centres.
Provisional Urban Council Venues
Hong Kong City Hall
The Hong Kong City Hall has commanded a special place in Hong Kong's cultural life since its establishment in 1962. Extensively refurbished in 1994, it is a major multi-purpose complex comprising a Concert Hall, a Theatre, a Recital Hall, an Exhibition Gallery and an Exhibition Hall. In 1999, a total of 715 events were held, attracting 359 000 people.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Since its inauguration in 1989, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre has established itself as a major performing arts venue attracting leading artists from all over the world. It has three major performing venues: the Concert Hall, the Grand Theatre and the Studio Theatre with seating capacities of 2 000, 1 734 and 534 respectively. In 1999, a total of 590 000 people attended 767 performances in these venues.
Community Arts Centres
The Provisional Urban Council ran four community arts centres: Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre and Ko Shan Theatre. More than 440 performances were presented in 1999 to promote the arts to the district communities, attracting over 160 000 people. Through the 'Artists-in- Residence' Scheme, local arts groups may use one of the community arts centres as their home base for a designated period to develop and promote their creative works and educational programmes to the district communities.