Chapter 19
Recreation, Sport and the Arts
Hong Kong people are known for their dedication to work. But they also know how to relax at a wide range of recreational, sports and cultural facilities, many of which are built and managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services
Department. New initiatives
introduced during the year will enrich these activities.
Recreation, sport and the arts provide opportunities for the people of Hong Kong to enrich the quality of their lives. The Government aims to nurture an environment in which freedom of creativity, pluralistic development of the arts, sporting excellence and recreation for the community can thrive.
The Government's policies on sport, recreation, culture and heritage matters are coordinated by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB). A number of expert bodies contribute to the development of these policies, including the former Hong Kong Sports Development Board, the former Culture and Heritage Commission, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the Antiquities Advisory Board.
The continued development of Hong Kong's artistic culture is in part entrusted to the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, which is a statutory body. To set up a new administrative structure for sports development, in July 2003 the Executive Council approved the dissolution of the Hong Kong Sports Development Board and the restructure of the Hong Kong Sports Institute to become an incorporated body to undertake matters pertaining to high performance sports training under the auspices. of the Hong Kong Sports Development Board and also the establishment of a new Sports Commission to advise the Government on all matters pertaining to sports development in Hong Kong. The Elite Sports Committee, the Major Sports Events Committee and the Community Sports Committee have been set up under the Sports Commission to offer expert opinions to the Commission on their respective areas. The new administrative structure marks an important milestone for sports development in Hong Kong.
In the field of sport and recreation, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is responsible for promoting and developing recreation and sport at the
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