XN000022-1981-08-04 — Page 4

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1981

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MORE TAKING TO OUTDOOR SPORTS

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MORE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE MAKING BETTER USE OF THEIR LEISURE HOURS BY ENGAGING IN A WIDE VARIETY OF OUTDOOR AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE HELP AND EFFORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE.

THROUGH ITS 19 DISTRICT OFFICES OPERATING IN ALL PARTS OF THE URBAN AREAS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SERVICE STAGES MANY PROGRAMMES, RANGING FROM DANCE AND FITNESS CLASSES TO TEAM GAMES AND ATHLETIC MEETS.

LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 560 000 PEOPLE STEPPED OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO TAKE PART IN THESE ACTIVITIES, AND SUCH WAS THE DEMAND FOR PLACES THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAD TO MISS OUT ON THEIR CHANCES, THE PRINCIPAL RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICER, MR DICKEN YUNG SAID.

+ENCOURAGING RESPONSE FROM THE PEOPLE HAS LED TO THE

OPENING OF MORE CLASSES, HE SAID.

+HENCE, CONVENIENT SPOTS SUCH AS SPACES UNDER FLYOVERS OR AT THE PIER AND EXISTING UNDERUSED BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO TRAINING GROUNDS TO ENABLE CLASSES TO BE HELD.

+THEY ARE ARRANGED AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY TO SUIT PEOPLE OF ALL CONDITIONS SUCH AS THE PROFESSIONALS, FACTORY AND OFFICE WORKERS, AND HOUSEWIVES, +

MR YUNG EMPHASISED THAT IN THE PROGRAMME DEVISED, NO-ONE IS MEANT TO BE LEFT OUT.

+FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE WATER SAFETY COURSES FOR BABIES AND SWIMMING CLASSES FOR THE ELDERLIES, AND THE HAND ICAPPED AND THE INFIRM HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECREATION PLANS, + HE SAID.

THE SERVICE HAS ALSO BEEN MAKING VIGOROUS EFFORTS TO BRING THE MORE EXPENSIVE SPORTS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

WHILE SUCH ACTIVITIES AS SCUBA DIVING, SAILING AND HORSE- RIDING ARE NORMALLY BEYOND THE MEANS OF MANY, MORE PEOPLE CAN NOW ENJOY THESE SPORTS WITH ONLY A MINIMAL CHARGE.

MR YUNG POINTED OUT THAT AMONG SOME 4 664 PROGRAMMES ORGANISED IN 1980/81, THE MOST POPULAR EVENTS WERE HIKING, EXCURSION, SAILING AND CANOEING, AND RESIDENTIAL CAMPING AT THE OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRES.

+ THE OPENING OF THE LADY MACLEHOSE VILLAGE CENTRE AT SAI KUNG HAS CREATED MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO DIVERT THE IR EXCESSIVE ENERGY IN HEALTHY OUTLETS AND TO ENJOY EXPERIENCES THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE IR ROUTINE ACTIVITY WORK, HE SAID.

/HE WAS