XN000022-1980-06-26 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1980

THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS DECREASED BY ONE POINT IN CPI (B) DUE TO LOWER PRICES FOR GENUINE JEWELLERY, PARTLY OFFSETTING THIS EFFECT WERE THE INCREASES IN THE PRICES OF MEDICINES AND TOILET REQUISITES.

HIGHER CHARGES FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES INCREASED THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES BY ONE POINT IN CPI (A).

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY ONE POINT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND CINEMA ENTERTAINMENT.

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR MAY 1980, WHICH IS NOW ON SALE AT $2 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY THAT THE SETTING UP OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION IN THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH SIGNIFIED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED TO THESE ACTIVITIES AND WAS A MEASURE OF THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH IT REGARDED ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN THESE FIELDS.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST, MR WIGGHAM SAID THE NEW DIVISION WAS SET UP TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVED CO-ORDINATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATION AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMES, NOTING THAT THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE (RSS) AND THE MÚSIC OFFICE WERE PART OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY WERE FIRST ESTABLISHED.

HE NOTED THAT SINCE THE RSS STARTED OPERATION IN OCTOBER 1974, IT HAD BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS TO ORGANISE RECREATION AND SPORT ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

IN THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 1980, ALMOST HALF A MILLION PEOPLE TOOK PART IN JUST UNDER 4000 RECREATION PROGRAMMES ORGANISED BY THE SERVICE. THESE ACTIVITIES RANGE FROM POPULAR CAMPS, EXCURSIONS, AND OTHER OUTDOOR PURSUITS, TO FITNESS PROGRAMMES, TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL GAMES AND OTHER FAST DEVELOPING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ICE-SKATING, HORSE-RIDING AND SAILING.

/PROGRAMMES FÜR