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7
(a) St. Joseph's Football Club formerly allocated area G within the Race
Course at Happy Valley.
(b) The Netherlands Club formerly allocated area N at King's Park.
In both instances, lack of funds was given as the reason for non-application.
27. We were mindful of the fact that we had so far taken no cognisance of the need for Recreation Grounds for Schools. With approximately 147,000 pupils in School in Hong Kong, only three Schools had playing fields and of these, one namely that of Queen's College, was in extremis, shortly to be used for the erection of a new building to house the School. Our attention had been called to the fact that all the Recreation sites in and around the densely crowded areas of Wantsai, Tai Hang and Causeway Bay were reserved for exclusive Clubs or Organizations. We therefore are of the opinion that it would be a shortsighted and unbalanced policy to reserve the use of area A, at Wong Nei Chong for yet another closed group, if it could be put to a wider and more general use.
28. We accordingly recommend that:
"The former Hong Kong Civil Service Cricket Clubhouse and as much of its ground as might be available should be earmarked for use by, or for, as wide a section of the public as possible, and not allocated to any private Club."
29. It was known that many applications had been made to Government for this ground, but, of those made to us, two only would appear to satisfy the above recommendation.
These are:
(a) From Director of Education for development as a centre for training of
Teachers, Leaders, and Coaches in Physical Education and Recreation.
(b) From the Social Welfare Officer for a Community Centre which in the first instance would provide for the very poor, indoor recreational and cultural facilities, an experimental employment bureau, at least one Youth Club, and other necessary Social Services.
30. In support of (a) we feel that the importance of its work both in Schools and in the wider Social field in the Colony will be readily admitted. Its funda- mental importance is amply demonstrated by its advance in position in the social structure in other parts of the world, and some such training centre is badly needed in Hong Kong. Through its teachers and coaches, its influence would reach a far greater number than if the ground was allotted to one particular group. There is daily evidence of the need for the development of higher standards of behaviour in recreation in the Colony, and hence in the daily lives of its citizens.
31. We believe that the soundest way to effect any improvement is through the youth of the Colony.
32. Against it is the fact that the Director of Education states that he has no funds available to develop such a centre and that he would be dependent upon Govern- ment's willingness to provide the necessary money.
33. With regard to (b), we feel that the application has much to recommend it, not the least of which is that an undertaking has been given by an interested Kaifong Association to raise $125,000 towards the cost of the proposed development. However we are of the opinion that the application is concerned more directly with the provi- sion of a building rather than facilities for outdoor recreation.
34. We, therefore, unanimously recommend:
"That the Hong Kong Civil Service Cricket Club's Clubhouse, and those parts of its grounds which were not earmarked either for the Hong Kong Football Club or for a Pool ground, should be allocated to
the Director of Education for development as a Training Centre for Teachers, Leaders, and Coaches in Physical Education and Recreation; but that if Government should be unable to set aside sufficient funds for this purpose, the same building and a portion of the ground should be allocated to the Social Welfare Centre, which should extend special faci- lities to underprivileged adults and children."
VI.
The "Pool" Scheme for Recreation Grounds.
35. Bearing in mind the resolution made in regard to A, Wong Nei Chong and the factors influencing that resolution we were now faced with two outstanding problems.
(a) that of provision of adequate recreation grounds for schools, (b) that of provision for the less articulate, less organized, and lesser pri-
vileged groups in the Colony.
36. With 147,000 pupils, and only three Schools with grounds attached, the urgency of this question needs no elaboration.
37. The growth of small Football and Football generally among the lower paid groups in the Colony, has of latter years become very marked and it is our opinion that the question of some provision for grass covered grounds for these groups can no longer be ignored.
38. The fundamental problem in both cases is primarily one of
(a) space available
(b) cost.
39. This is a problem which has faced most Local Authorities in England as
it has developed, and it is our opinion that the time has now arrived when Government in Hong Kong should meet the problem in the same manner as it has been met else. where; namely, that an official organization be set up from which such groups may rent the use of pitches, tennis courts, bowling greens, etc. by the hour, or by the game, at an agreed fee.
40. We further believe that this is the only method by which a more equitable distribution of the facilities for outdoor recreation, and by which the benefits of such recreation, can be made available to the lesser privileged groups in the Colony.
41. The Director of Education had early indicated his willingness to place under such a pool any ground previously allotted to him, and we therefore recommend as follows:
(1)(a) "that all grounds listed in the Table to the Second Schedule not covered by an earlier recommendation in the report shall for the purposes of maintenance be placed under the Superintendent of Gardens."
(2)
(3)
(b) "that all grounds as, and when, relinquished by the Combined Armed Services, and any other ground becoming available in the Urban area shall also be placed under the Superintendent of Gardens for maintenance.'
""
"that these grounds shall then be available for hire by the game or by the hour, at an agreed fee, the extent to which that fee should be made sufficient to cover the cost of maintenance to be the deci- sion of Government.
"that for the purposes of the smooth operation of such a scheme, a Competent Authority, who should co-operate closely with the Officer responsible for maintenance, be set up to allocate pitches and courts and to handle the financial arrangements for such alloca- tion."
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