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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In order to provide facilities both for passive and also active physical education, we first have to find the land space. Britain is usually regarded as an overcrowded country and so it is. However, in Hong Kong, we have about 4.3 million people living in a territory of 400 sq. miles, which makes it roughly ten times the population density of Britain. The fierce competition to get hold of any vacant piece of land as soon as it becomes available need hardly be emphasized.
For this reason, it becomes the more important that we should make the best possible use of whatever sites are available. We must accept that our facilities will be more intensively used than is usual in other territories. Physical recreation for young people is a necessity and not a luxury. The teeming energy of youth must be channelled into healthy activities. For this reason, it is our policy to build indoor games halls, at least one for each district.
The one at Kai Tak East was the first to be completed and three more are either completed or nearing completion. These three, although basically of the same design as the prototype at Kai Tak, incorporate certain improvements. My Committee is now considering improving and slightly enlarging the design. These games halls are not meant for high-level competitions, but for ordinary recreational use and I am sure that each games hall will be a great asset to its particular district.
Plans are in hand for an extension to Victoria Park, which will increase its area by an additional 20%. This will be on the Moreton Terrace site across the main road from the existing Victoria Park. This site was originally set aside for the Velodrome and Sports Training Centre. This is a Government financial commitment. However, it has been accorded such a low priority in the Public Works Programme that work is not expected to start within the next ten to fifteen years. It is obvious that this important site, close to the densely built-up areas of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, could not be left lying vacant for this length of time. Accordingly, the present plan is to develop this site for active recreational use. The opportunity is also being taken of altering the layout of Victoria Park so as to split the active from the passive recreational facilities. More tennis and squash courts will be put in.
In addition, sketch plans for the Morrison Hill Indoor Games Centre and for the Wan Chai Reclamation Recreation Centre have been approved in principle subject to detailed planning. With the completion of these projects, facilities for active games will be substantially increased.
# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In addition to providing the physical facilities, their actual use has also to be organized and encouraged. For this purpose, a Recreation and Sports Service has been set up by Government and this has been doing good work. It is fair to say that there is close co-operation between the Urban Council and the Recreation and Sports Service. However, the present position is that we are planning and building the physical facilities. The Recreation and Sports Service organizes the use of such facilities. However close the co-operation, it is inevitable that we will build the facilities we think are required and they will use the facilities in the manner they think best.
In order to serve the public in the fullest possible way, those who are responsible for organizing the use of the facilities should be part of the body which plans those facilities. In other words, it is my opinion that the Recreation and Sports Service should be part of, and run by the Urban Council so that those who are responsible for the use of the facilities will be in at the inception of the planning of those facilities.
Swimming is one of the most popular forms of recreation in Hong Kong. One only has to look at the numbers which crowd on to our beaches in summer to realize this. There are no more beaches available which are easy of access and suitable for development for mass use. We have recently built five beach buildings at various beaches on Hong Kong Island so as to provide the public with lavatories, showers, and changing facilities. We must recognize, however, that these beaches are rapidly nearing saturation point.
In addition to beaches, we now have seven swimming pool complexes in the Urban areas with an 8th one at Aberdeen now undergoing construction.
As members are aware, the Gardens formerly known as the Botanic Gardens have now been renamed The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. This is in recognition of the fact that in addition to being a garden, there is a mammal house and an aviary there. With the able and devoted assistance of our Honorary Curators and Advisers, we are endeavouring to improve the facilities. The mammal house has been completely renovated and the cages are now set among trees and shrubs in a clean and attractive setting. The aviary has also been enlarged. While these facilities are not large enough to be called a zoo, they are nevertheless very attractive and well worth a visit.
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