XN000022-1982-08-12 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1982

DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR SPORTS

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THE ACTING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BRIAN COAK, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT HONG KONG NEEDED AN OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR SPORTS.

+WITHOUT GOOD ORGANISATION, RAPID GROWTH AND ATTAINMENT OF HIGHER STANDARDS WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE. MR COAK TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG ISLAND SOUTH.

IF HONG KONG WAS TO ATTRACT OVERSEAS COMPETITION, NOT ONLY MUST IT HAVE THE FINANCE AND THE FACILITIES, IT MUST FIRST HAVE THE ORGANISATION TO PULL ALL THINGS TOGETHER TO AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTABLE STANDARD, HE POINTED OUT.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITIES FOR A +NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR SPORT+ ON THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT.

MR COAK REFERRED TO THE FRAGMENTED STRUCTURE AND ORGANISATION OF SPORT WHICH HE SAID IMPEDED DEVELOPMENT AND WHICH REQUIRED RECTIF ICATION.

HE THEN MADE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR RE-ORGANISATION:

*TO BUILD UP THE SPORTS ADMINISTRATION SECTION OF THE

RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WHICH WOULD ASSIST THE GOVERNING BODIES AND THE PLETHORA OF VOLUNTARY SPORTS ORGANISATIONS;

* TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT COUNCIL FOR SPORT WITH ITS

OWN STAFF CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MATTERS RELATING TO ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF SPORT; AND

* TO INJECT PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF INTO THE

AMATEUR SPORT FEDERATION AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE AND THE GOVERNING BODIES.

MR COAK SAID ONE PROBLEM AREA WHICH NEEDED RESOLVING WAS THE CLASHES BETWEEN SPORTSMEN AND THE RECREATIONALISTS OVER THE USE OF CERTAIN FACILITIES.

HE SUGGESTED THAT AN IMMEDIATE EXAMINATION OF POLICIES FOR MANAGEMENT AND USE WAS REQUIRED TO RECONCILE THESE DIFFERENCES AND THE RESULTS USED FOR PLANNING PURPOSES IN THE FUTURE AS THE PROBLEM WAS GOING TO INCREASE RATHER THAN DIMINISH.

EMPHASISING THAT THERE WERE LIMITATIONS TO WHICH PUBLIC FUNDS COULD BE DIVERTED TO MEET LONG-TERM SPORTING REQUIREMENTS, MR COAK CALLED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR +FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR SOCIETY AS, WITHOUT THE INDUSTRY OF THESE VERY PEOPLE, CORPORATE PROFITS WILL SIMPLY NOT MATERIAL ISE.+

+A BETTER APPROACH MIGHT BE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO MAKE CORPORATE GIFTS TO A SPORTS DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND LIKE THE BRITISH SPORTS AID FOUNDATION WITH THE OBJECT OF SUPPORTING SPORTS ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES,+ HE SAID.

APART FROM RAISING THE STANDARD OF LOCAL ATHLETES, A PROPER COACHING SYSTEM AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CAPABILITIES OF TECHNICAL OFFICIALS AND SPORTS ADMINISTRATORS WERE ALSO NEEDED, HE ADDED.