XN000022-1977-10-09 — Page 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1977

RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE

TO CELEBRATE THIRD ANNIVERSARY

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THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH WITH A MONTH-LONG PROGRAMME FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, MR. DICKEN YUNG, SENIOR RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER, SAID THAT THE AIM OF THE SERVICE WAS WELL ILLUSTRATED IN ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMMES WHICH INCLUDE CAMPING, AQUATIC MEETS AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMMES WHICH ARE ORGANISED UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF VARIOUS VOLUNTARY AND SPORTS AGENCIES AND WITH THE CO-ORDINATION OF SEVERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, ARE EIGHT DISTRICTS SWIMMING GALAS, SEVEN MAJOR GAMES COMPETITIONS, EIGHT SPORTS CAMPS FOR YOUTHS AND FAMILIES, A DISTRICT ATHLETIC MEET AT STANLEY, A LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL-FOR-ALL DAY, TWO SPECIAL GAMES DAYS FOR THE HANDICAPPED IN MONG KOK, AN ANGLING COMPETITION IN SA! KUNG, AND TWO OVERNIGHT EXPEDITIONS ROUND MA ON SHAN AND CHEUNG SHEUNG.

OTHER ANNIVERSARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE OUTDOOR PURSUITS FOR ALL AGES, DISTRICT AND REGIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS AND REGULAR SPORTS TRAINING CLASSES.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN OCTOBER, 1974, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE HAS LAUNCHED MORE THAN 5,000 PROJECTS INVOLVING THE PARTICIPATION OF 600,000 PEOPLE.

MR. YUNG SAID WITH AN AVERAGE OF 2,700 PEOPLE TAKING PART IN 30 TO 50 ACTIVITIES EACH DAY, THE TOTAL SESSION ATTENDANCE AT RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE EVENTS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN AS HIGH AS THREE MILLION.

ALL THE EVENTS ARE CONDUCTED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE SERVICE'S DISTRICT OFFICES, THE NUMBER OF WHICH WAS INCREASED FROM SIX IN OCTOBER, 1974 TO 17 IN SEPTEMBER, 1976.

AGE OF THE PARTICIPANTS RANGED FROM NINE TO 66 BUT THE VAST MAJORITY FELL IN THE 16-24 AGE GROUP.

HOWEVER, MR, YUNG POINTED OUT, ONE SIGNIFICANT TREND HAS BEEN THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGE OF 25 AND 45 PARTICIPATED IN PHYSICAL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE SERVICE.

+THIS TREND SHOWS THAT MORE ADULTS AND WORKING PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE BEGINNING TO REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF RECREATION AND SPORT, HE NOTED.

/APART FROM