XN000022-1976-02-26 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976

MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN EXPANDED RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES ******

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION, MR. DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY THAT SERVICES PROVIDED BY RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICERS IN SIX DISTRICTS WOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL 17 DISTRICTS OF HONG KONG IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.

+THIS,+ HE SAID, +WILL CREATE AN ENORMOUS INCREASE IN THE PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE IN RECREATION AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES.+

MR. BRAY WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF TAI PING SHAN ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF ITS OPERATION.

HE SAID THAT SINCE THE R.S.S. CAME INTO OPERATION, EVERY POSSIBLE ATTEMPT HAD BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE AS WIDE A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMME AS POSSIBLE.

COMPETITIONS AND COACHING CLINICS IN THE POPULAR GAMES, HE SAID, HAD BEEN ORGANISED IN ALL DISTRICTS.

THE LESS POPULAR SPORTS SUCH AS DIVING, WATER POLO AND ROLLER SKATING, HAD ATTRACTED PARTICIPANTS EAGER TO LEARN A NEW SKILL. MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAD ENJOYED OUTINGS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND ANOTHER POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL ACTIVITY HAD BEEN THE FAMILY CAMP.

AT THE SAME TIME. MR. BRAY SAID, TO ENSURE A SOURCE OF TRAINED MANPOWER SUCH AS COACHES, REFEREES AND LEADERS TO ASSIST IN RUNNING PROGRAMMES, THE R.S.S. HAD CONDUCTED TRAINING COURSES FOR NEARLY 3,000 VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE NOW ASSISTING THE SERVICE TO CONDUCT ITS RECREATIONAL PROGRAMME.

+THE EXTRA-MURAL DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE ARE JOINTLY RUNNING A CERTIFICATE COURSE IN RECREATION MANAGEMENT. THE FIRST COURSE STARTED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, AND THE SECOND COURSE IS DUE TO COMMENCE THIS OCTOBER, HE SAID.

MR. BRAY, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, SAID THERE WAS A GREAT DEMAND FOR ORGANISED RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES IN THE COMMUNITY.

HE POINTED OUT THAT MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE HAD BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN R.S.S. PROGRAMMES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION. THEIR AGE RANGED FROM TEN TO 66, ALTHOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY FELL IN THE 16-24 AGE GROUP.

MR. BRAY SAID THAT GREATER DEVELOPMENT IN RECREATION DEFINITELY HAD A FAR-REACHING EFFECT ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.

/HE APPEALED