WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1981
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NEW DEPARTMENT FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE FORMATION OF A NEW DEPARTMENT TO CO-ORDINATE RECREATIONAL AND SPORT ACTIVITIES FOR THE POPULATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION OF THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH WILL BE KNOWN AS THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.
THE NEW DEPARTMENT IS TO BE HEADED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM.
THE DEPARTMENT CONSISTS OF THE HEADQUARTERS AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, AND THREE OPERATIONAL UNITS - THE RECREATION AND SPORT DIVISION, THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION, EACH UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER.
MR WIGGHAM SAID THIS MOVE REFLECTED THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH GOVERNMENT TOOK ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS, RECREATION AND CULTURE.
+ IT IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE, A STARTING POINT FROM WHICH GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTING AND CULTURE ACTIVITIES WILL BE COHESIVELY PLANNED AND DEVELOPED.
+WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED TO SEE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO USE THE IR LEISURE TIME. WE CAN HELP THEM DEVELOP A SKILL AND TAKE PART IN LARGE- SCALE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, HE SAID.
+THE NEW DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANISE AND PROVIDE MORE OUTDOOR AND INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ITS CO-OPERATION WITH EXISTING CULTURAL AND SPORT ORGANISATIONS WILL BE FURTHER EXPANDED, HE ADDED.
THE DECISION TO FORM A NEW DEPARTMENT FOLLOWED A DETAILED REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND
IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.
ACTIVE GOVERNMENT PROMOTION OF SPORTS AND RECREATION DATES BACK TO OCTOBER 1974 DURING WHICH THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE WAS ESTABLISHED.
SINCE THEN, SOME TWO MILLION PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ONE OR MORE OF ITS 17 000 SPORTS PROJECTS.
/THE MUSIC