RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS
The HKYHA is a non-profit-making, non-political and non-religious organisation, managed by an Executive Committee comprising responsible and enthusiastic personalities in the local community, and affiliated to the International Youth Hostel Federation. The association provides facilities and services to all, irrespective of race, creed or gender. Being a charity not subvented by the Government, the association is entirely dependent upon the support of members and well-wishers in financing its day-to-day operations.
The association runs seven youth hostels: the Jockey Club Mount Davis Youth Hostel at Mount Davis, Hong Kong Island; Bradbury Lodge at Tai Mei Tuk, north- east New Territories; Bradbury Hall at Chek Keng, Sai Kung East Country Park; Pak Sha O Youth Hostel at Pak Sha O, Sai Kung West Country Park; Sze Lok Yuen at Tai Mo Shan, Tai Mo Shan Country Park; the Hongkong Bank Foundation S. G. Davis Hostel at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island; and the Jockey Club Mong Tung Wan Hostel at Mong Tung Wan, on the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula, Lantau Island. Two more hostels may be built, at Tai O and Shek Kip Mei.
The fire-safety upgrading works at Bradbury Hall, Pak Sha O Youth Hostel, Sze Lok Yuen and the Hongkong Bank Foundation S. G. Davis Hostel, all supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, have been completed; similar works will be carried out at the Jockey Club Mount Davis Youth Hostel and the Jockey Club Mong Tung Wan Hostel in 2003. Other projects include the construction of a multi- purpose activity hall at Sze Lok Yuen, sponsored by the Sir David Trench Fund for Recreation, as well as the repair and renovation of Bradbury Lodge, depending on the availability of charitable donations for the capital works involved. During the year, the association's volunteer services group continued to organise a variety of hiking and outdoor activities as well as community services.
Country and Marine Parks
Some 38 per cent of Hong Kong's total land area has been designated as country parks. The 23 country parks provide extensive hiking trails, barbecue sites, picnic sites, camp sites and visitor centres which attracted over 11 million visitors in 2002.
There are four marine parks and one marine reserve for the conservation of marine life. In these marine parks, visitors may appreciate and receive educational information on the beauty and diversity of marine life in Hong Kong. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department manages both country parks and marine parks.
Horticulture and Landscape Services
The LCSD is responsible for improving the environment of Hong Kong through the planting of ornamental trees and shrubs in public gardens and roadside amenity areas, and the preservation of trees. It maintains all public open spaces in the form of parks, gardens, sports grounds, football pitches and children's playgrounds, and also amenity plots and soft landscape plantings alongside highways and public roads. The services provided include landscape planting, horticultural research, tree maintenance and conservation. During the year, the department planted 60 000 trees as well as 2.92 million shrubs and seasonal flowers at these places and carried out landscape improvement projects for 32 hectares of park land and roadside amenity areas.
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