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(3) Toilets for the disabled persons in the City Hall Low Block were completed in December, 1980.
(4) Additional stereo-microphone and accessories for improvement of sound effects in City Hall Concert Hall and Theatre.
(5) Replacement of the Auditorium Lighting Dimmer System for the Concert Hall was completed.
Improvement projects in progress are as follows:-
(1) City Hall Scheduled Maintenance (including white-washing of building and replacement of flooring, etc.)
(2) Reconstruction of the City Hall covered walkway.
(3) Replacement of the carpet in the City Hall Low Block.
(4) Replacement of display panels, house signs in the City Hall.
(5) Orders for the purchase of equipment for improving the acoustics of Concert Hall and Theatre have been placed, pending delivery and installation.
(6) Order for closed circuit colour TV at the Concert Hall for latecomers and lighting operators has been placed, pending delivery and installation.
With the expansion of the Council's outdoor entertainment programmes in terms of the number and also scale of presentation, it is considered necessary to improve the stage, sound and lighting facilities so as to provide better visual and audio effects for the audience. In November 1980, a 28' custom-built showmobile was procured to reinforce the stage equipment in addition to the requisition of another set of portable steel stage. These modern designed stages would be used to replace those wooden stages which are less durable and of poor visual impact.
Contract for the construction of the Ko Shan Road Open-Air Theatre—the first purpose-building open air theatre in Hong Kong—has already been awarded and the Theatre should be completed in mid-1982. We are confident that this Theatre will be very popular as the Council will be able to present more sophisticated outdoor entertainment programme for the enjoyment of the general public even under adverse weather condition.
The existing 13 Council Libraries, including two mobile libraries offer a full range of services in books in lending and reference libraries, newspapers, periodicals and microfilm facilities. The library facilities aim at encouraging people to read in order to further their education, enrich their knowledge or merely for enjoyment. During the year, 65,321 volumes of new books were acquired, bringing the total stock to 983,831 volumes. The libraries further strengthened the audio-visual material by acquiring 160 video cassettes, 1,054 sets of slides, 337 gramophone records and cassette tapes and 334 reels of microfilm. Usage of library service continued to be high. During the year, about 4 million books were borrowed from the lending libraries for home reading and further 4 million books were read in the libraries. Some 60,547 people of various age groups registered as new members, bringing the total membership to 847,303.
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The Council's modern library services go far beyond encouraging people to read. Apart from providing reading materials and readers' services, the Council Libraries organized a variety of extension activities to help diffuse knowledge to people of different age groups and walks of life. Students, housewives, workers, the young and the old may go to the libraries to listen to subject talks given by experts, to watch information films, video tapes or slides, or they may actively take part in interest clubs, such as Chinese calligraphy, ribbon flower making, music appreciation etc. Audio-visual aids are generally used widely to add interest to such activities. In 1980, the expanded library extension activities attracted 833,081 participants in 2,759 organized activities which were supported wherever appropriate by reading lists and book exhibitions so that the participants might pursue the subjects by further reading. These activities are all free of charge and gave a great deal of mental satisfaction to the public.
A second Chinese Literary Week was held in August, 1980, during which lectures and seminar were given by renowned scholars on creative writing and appreciation of Chinese literature. All lectures/seminar were enthusiastically attended.
The policy of locating libraries in the Council's own purpose-built premises was being implemented. The new North Point Library located in the North Point Market Building is under intensive preparation and will start operation in early 1981. The special block loan service on experimental basis to the spinal injuries patients in the Kowloon Hospital was well received. Similar service will be instituted in other institutions for the disabled.
This Council's public recreation and sports promotion programme was first launched in 1973, the objective being to promote the general standard of sport and provide healthy and meaningful activities for the public. Over the years, the programme has grown in scope and variety and continued to attract wide participation. In the year 1980, a budget of $4.5 million dollars was approved. The provision has enabled a full range of activities to be organized for the public. Some 70,000 people, mostly between 15 and 25 years of age, took part in these activities which attracted more than 2 million spectators from all walks of life.
Availability of sports facilities is crucial in bringing up the general standard of sports. In August, 1980, Hong Kong celebrated the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The fifty million dollar sports complex is administered by this Council. It has a main arena, a multi-purpose games hall, three squash courts, two gymnasia, offices for local sports bodies and other ancillary facilities. Its modern design and world-class equipment has placed it among the finest indoor sports stadia in Asia.
The various facilities of the stadium are available for hiring by the public through an advance booking system. For the arena which is designed primarily for the holding of spectator events, a six-month advance booking period has
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