XN000022-1983-03-15 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1983

DEPARTMENT SEARCHING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND SERVICES 蒸薰蒸亚瓦

THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK

FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND ITS SERVICE TO COPE WITH THE EVER RISING NEEDS FOR SPORT AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, THE DEPARTMENT'S DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, MR CHRIS WONG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

MR WONG, WHO WAS SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, STRESSED THAT THE PROVISION OF AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY RECREATION FACILITIES IN NEW TOWNS AND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAD ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MAJOR CONCERNS,

DURING THE TALK, MR WONG ALSO OUTLINED THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MUSIC OFFICE.

MR WONG SAID THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE STARTED ON A VERY MODEST FOOTING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND, INDEED, IN THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG.

ACTING ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, THE RSS WHICH WAS THEN A SMALL SECTION WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, STARTED OPERATION IN OCTOBER 1974 IN SIX DISTRICTS.

ONLY ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS NEW TERRITORIES, HE RECALLED.

YUEN LONG - FELL WITHIN THE

MR WONG SAID THE RSS NOW OPERATES IN 19 OFFICES, WHICH INCLUDE NINE DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AS WELL AS THREE FITNESS CENTRES, TWO CAMPS AND ONE WATER SPORTS CENTRE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+UNTIL WE CAN REASONABLY CLAIM THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MEET THE MAIN THRUST OF PUBLIC DEMAND WE HAVE NO REASON TO BE COMPLACENT OVER OUR ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR,+ HE SAID.

+I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE CONTINUING OUR SEARCH IN THE WAYS AND MEANS OF EXPANDING OUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY TO COPE WITH THE EVER RISING NEEDS FOR RECREATION AND SPORT OPPORTUNITIES BOTH IN THE N.T. AND IN THE URBAN AREAS, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RCD'S TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS AVAILABLE NOT ONLY TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS BUT ALSO THE VARIOUS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF RECREATION FACILITIES PLANNING.

ON THE WORK OF THE MUSIC OFFICE, MR WONG SAID IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 WITH THE AIMS OF RUNNING A FULL-SCALE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMME IN BOTH WESTERN AND CHINESE MUSIC; PROMOTING THE INTEREST AND STANDARD OF MUSIC, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION; AND ENCOURAGING AND ASSISTING IN THE ORGANISATION OF MUSIC ACTIVITIES IN ALL DISTRICTS.

/THE MUSIC