XN000022-1981-01-07 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1981

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HK HAS WITNESSED RECREATION AND SPORT EXPLOSION

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HONG KONG HAS WITNESSED A RECREATION AND SPORT EXPLOSION IN THE LAST ONE OR TWO YEARS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM SAID TODAY.

WITH MORE LEISURE TIME AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN MANY KINDS OF SPORTING ACTIVITIES, HE SAID, IN AN ADDRESS TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG ISLAND EAST.

MR WIGGHAM POINTED OUT THAT THE TASK OF ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON HOW THE SUPERVISION OF RECREATION AND SPORT BY GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES CAN BE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED WAS THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT (CRS).

IN ADDITION THE COUNCIL ACTS AS THE CHANNEL FOR ADVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AMATEUR SPORT, AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT ON ANY SPECIAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES REQUIRED TO MEET LEISURE-TIME NEEDS, ESPECIALLY OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE COMMISSIONER NOTED THAT IT WAS ON THE ADVICE OF THE CRS THAT AT THE END OF 1974 THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED ITS RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE (RSS), THE AIM OF WHICH WAS TO PROVIDE HEALTHY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANISED RECREATION.

OVER THESE YEARS, THE RSS HAS BECOME WELL ESTABLISHED AND THE VAST PROGRAMMES IT ORGANISED EVERY DAY NO LONGER NEED THE DETAILED SUPERVISION OF THE COUNCIL, AS A RESULT, THE COUNCIL IS ABLE TO DEVOTE MORE OF ITS TIME AND ENERGY TO THE SPORT ASPECT OF ITS FUNCTIONS, HE SAID.

+THE WIDER AND MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES RELATING TO SPORT IN HONG KONG ARE DEALT WITH BY THE FULL COUNCIL, BUT SOME OF THE MORE DETAILED OR TECHNICAL SUBJECTS ARE DELEGATED TO COMMITTEES,+ MR WIGGHAM EXPLAINED.

THERE ARE THREE SUCH COMMITTEES THE COMMUNITY RECREATION COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS AND THE VETTING COMMITTEE.

THE COMMUNITY RECREATION COMMITTEE KEEPS TABS ON THE SERVICES, ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES PROVIDED FOR RECREATION AND SPORT. ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND IN PARTICULAR, HAS ESTABLISHED CLOSE LIAISON WITH AMATEUR SPORTS BODIES TO ASSESS WHAT SUPPORT OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THEY MAY REQUIRE.

THE COMMITTEE ON SAFETY IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS AIMS AT IDENTIFYING THOSE OUTDOOR PURSUITS WHERE APPROPRIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED, AND ADVISING HOW THESE ARE TO BE IMPLEMENTED, IT HAS PRODUCED A VERY USEFUL BOOKLET IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE ENTITLED STEPPING OUT A GUIDE TO OUTDOOR RECREATION IN HONG KONG+ WHICH IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE.

THE VETTING COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE MONEY SET ASIDE BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE PROMOTION OF SPORT IS FAIRLY DISTRIBUTED AND PROPERLY SPENT.

/APART FROM