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which originated as an offshoot of the Advisory Inspectorate's Physical
Education Section and then developed as an independent service within
the Department before being absorbed by the Government Secretariat; and
the Annual Schools Music Festival, which was originally organised by the
Advisory Inspectorate's Music Section (and has now become one of the
largest in the world of its kind). The Music Office (formerly the Music
Administrator's Office), which was established in 1977 to promote music
training and activities for young people, was initially under the
administration of the Education Department before being transferred to
the Home Affairs Branch of the Government Secretariat.
School-based recreational facilities
7.28
The Education Department works in close co-operation with the
many agencies in Hong Kong providing recreational and cultural facilities,
in order to ensure maximum participation by young people within the
educational system. The Department also has direct responsibility for
a wide variety of out-of-school activities. The Physical Education
Section is responsible for various educational camps, canoeing and sailing
courses, a learn-to-swim scheme and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme,
and in conjunction with the Hong Kong School Sports Association and the
New Territories Sports Association, organises competitions in dance,
gymnastics, trampolining and canoeing. The Hong Kong Schools Sports
Council promotes school sports at inter-port and international levels.
During the summer the Education Department receives subventions from the
government and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club to operate a very extensive
and varied summer recreation programme in which over 270,000 children
are now taking part every year. The Department believes that activities
such as these are helping to improve the quality of education and promoting
personal development in directions which lie beyond the resources of
individual schools.
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Private notes are available after approval.