THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1982
11
LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN GREATER DEMAND
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THE OLD CHINESE SAYING OF +PLAY IS NOT BENEFICIAL AND DILIGENCE IS VIRTUOUS+ NO LONGER PREVAILS, AS MANY IN HONG KONG TODAY REGARD RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS VALUABLE.
THIS WAS SAID TODAY IN BRITAIN BY THE HEAD OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, PRINCIPAL RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER, MR DAVID CHIU.
MR CHIU, WHO IS REPRESENTING THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SPORT AND PEOPLE AT THE WEMBLY CONFERENCE CENTRE, SPOKE ON +MATCHING FACILITIES TO DEMAND+.
HE SAID THAT IN A RECENT SURVEY JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY THE RSS AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ON LEISURE PATTERNS OF ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE PEOPLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT 76 PER CENT OF THE 2 500 RESPONDENTS REGARDED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS VALUABLE.
+ IT REFLECTS THAT THE WORKING PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, INCLUSIVE OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, HAVE DEVELOPED POSITIVE VIEWS ON THE COMPENSATORY EFFECTS OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES ON WORK AND PRODUCTIVITY, HE SAID.
+THIS CHANGE OF ATTITUDE HAS RESULTED IN THE EVER- INCREASING GROWTH OF GOVERNMENTAL CONCERN FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEISURE PURSUITS.+
MR CHIU OUTLINED VARIOUS GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR RECREATION ON BOTH LAND AND SEA,
IN LAND-SHORT HONG KONG, MR CHIU EMPHASISED, THE DEPARTMENT HAD TO MAKE USE OF ANY SUITABLE OPEN SPACE FOR RECREATION, SUCH AS ROOF-TOPS, SPACES UNDER FLYOVERS AND EMPTY GODOWNS.
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY BEING LOOKED INTO BY THE GOVERNMENT IS UTILISATION OF THE SEA WHICH, ACCORDING TO MR CHIU +PROVIDES A VAST EXPANSE OF PLAYING SURFACE STILL VIRTUALLY UNTAPPED.+
+GOVERNMENT IS THEREFORE EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING BOAT PARKS' IN SUITABLE LOCATIONS WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN HIRE OUT BOATS OR RENT STORAGE SPACE TO KEEP THE IR BOATS, HE SAID.
+ IT IS HOPED THAT CLUBS CAN BE STARTED AROUND THESE BOAT PARKS SO THAT THE CANERS CAN START FORMAL OR INFORMAL RACING IN TIME,+ HE ADDED.
/HE ALSO