XN000022-1978-11-16 — Page 8

HURSDAY,

"OVER/BER 16, 1978

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+ THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDIA IN HONG KONG, AND ESPECIALLY THE CHINESE MEDIA, IS WELL UNDERSTOOD: IT IS, OF COURSE, VITAL TO ANY ENDEAVOUR TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE PROMOTION OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING,+ MR. LI SAID.

TOUCHING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS IN HONG KONG, MR. LI SAID THAT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS PLAN TO BUILD SOME 70 PUBLIC SQUASH COURTS, 31 IN THE URBAN AREAS AND 39 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AND THE CIVIL AID SERVICE CADET CORPS ARE PLANNING TO SET UP TWO WATER ACTIVITIES CENTRES IN SAI KUNG AND A PROJECT IS BEING PLANNED AT TAI ME! TUK IN TOLO HARBOUR TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE WATER SPORTS CENTRE WHICH WILL PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES CATERING FOR ALL KINDS OF WATER SPORTS, HE SAID.

+ IF FUNDS CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE SOON, ALL THREE CENTRES SHOULD BE READY FOR USE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS,+ HE ADDED.

TURNING TO ACTIVITIES, MR. LI POINTED OUT THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT BUT IS THE CULMINATION OF A CONTINUING YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMME.

HE SAID: +BOTH GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES RUN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, TO ENABLE BOTH YOUNG AND OLD TO SPEND THE IR LEISURE TIME JOYFULLY AND FRUITFULLY.

MR. LI ALSO REVEALED THAT THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR YOUTH RECREATION INTENDS TO ORGANISE A SERIES OF RECREATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES FOR THE SECOND TIME DURING THE NEXT CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS, + IF IT AGAIN PROVES TO BE A SUCCESS, WE SHALL INCORPORATE IT INTO THE YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES AS A SECOND HIGHLIGHT TO THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME.+

MR. LI ADDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION BRANCH IS CONDUCTING A MANAGEMENT STUDY OF THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH WITH A VIEW TO STREAML IN ING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MANY SPHERES OF CULTURAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES UNDER HIS RESPONSIBILITY.

IN THE FIELD OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, MR. LI SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERING GIVING GREATER ASSISTANCE TO VOLUNTARY BODIES ENGAGED IN THE PROMOTION OF MUSIC AND ITS APPRECIATION SUCH AS THE HONG KONG CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AND THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

MR. LI AGREED WITH THE HON. ALEX WU'S VIEW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THIS FIELD AND ADDED THAT HE WOULD GIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO HIS PROPOSAL CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ARTS COUNCIL.