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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
(d) In recent years, inline skating has also become popular among teenagers. Since playing of this sport in ordinary parks may easily knock down and hurt park-goers, has the Council any plans to design any specific venues for the use of such sport enthusiasts?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-chiu, Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, replied as follows (in Cantonese): The question of Ms. Au comprises four parts. The first part of the question enquires whether the Council has promoted any novel sports, or tested their popularity by pilot schemes and launched promotions afterwards.
Primarily, the PUC promotes novel sports through two channels. On one hand, the Council liaises with all government bodies of sports through the Sports Promotion Offices in order to help the promotion of sports activities, in particular the novel sports. On the other hand, the Council launches the 'Come and Try' scheme every year to introduce novel sports to the public and provide them with opportunities to try these activities.
During the course of promotion, District Offices (Recreation, Amenities and Sports) launch pilot schemes on the novel sports concerned to collect views and comments from participants and study the popularity of these sports. Systematic promotions will be carried out afterwards according to the needs.
The second part of the question enquires whether the Provisional Urban Council would prohibit playing of 'beach volleyball' on its beaches on the grounds that it will cause disturbance to swimmers, and designate any 'beach pitches' in some of its beaches and install simple facilities and boundary fences, so that citizens can enjoy activities like 'beach volleyball', 'beach rugby' and 'beach frisbee'.
During the swimming season, beaches are crowded with people because many swimmers would like to enjoy a dip, swimming and sun-bathing at our beaches. To avoid causing obstruction, inconvenience or nuisance to swimmers, and to prevent accidents, the Council does not encourage the playing of 'beach volleyball' or the like on its beaches during the swimming season. However, the Council would consider individual applications on their own merits if such activities do not take place during the swimming season.
The third part of the question enquires whether the Provisional Urban Council has held any training courses in gateball and golf at its indoor and outdoor venues, and also designated areas for citizens to practice their sports.
The PUC has held such activities as gateball and golf training courses at its indoor and outdoor venues, and also designated areas for citizens to practice these sports through these activities. For example, among the community recreation and sports activities held last year, 67 gateball activities (including 13 training courses), 52 fun days and 2 competitions were organized by the Council at its indoor and outdoor venues. As regards golf activities, the
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