HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
certain advantage of letting individual development to take its own course, the lack of a central body to give guidance and co-ordination will unavoidably cause some loss in efficiency both of helpers as well as the use of facilities. This is the reason why I have tried again and again to point out that we need a central body for the co-ordination and promotion of sports in Hong Kong in order to attain a more fruitful result.
In his report on a survey of 'Recreation for Young People' in Hong Kong, Mr. K. L. GILL of the Central Council of Physical Education of England made the same recommendation that Government should appoint a committee to act as an advisory group to Government on matters concerning community sports and recreation. He also recommended that a Community Sports and Recreation Officer should be appointed to work under this Council and that this officer might also serve as a secretary to this advisory committee.
In order that this committee can play a more effective role as a Sports Advisory Group to Government, its membership should include: representatives of the Education Department, Urban Services and Social Welfare Departments and also from the Sports Federation and other interested sports organizations or individuals. With such inclusions, the Committee is in a better position to push on with the various sports development schemes and to make detailed survey and to compile reports of up-to-date colony-wide development. This committee may also offer aid to private organizations to help solve their various difficulties in problems concerning grounds, administration or finance. It may also recommend to Government for subvention to deserving cases. It shall also undertake the job of sponsoring training courses.
I reckon that this Committee can be formed under a similar pattern as that of the Hong Kong Council of Social Welfare. May we call it "The Hong Kong Council of Sports and Recreations'. Of course, the smooth functioning of this Committee needs the full support of Government recognizing its share of responsibility in the task of promoting community Sports and Recreations.
We are now facing the very serious problem in the shortage of qualified sports instructors and coaches in Hong Kong. It is inexplicable that among a population of 4 million people with one million students, we do not have even one single school for Physical Education. This is an example to show that Government has not sufficiently recognized the importance of Community Sports.
Many types of sports and games can be sponsored in the form of matches and exhibitions which are capable of attracting a good crowd of spectators among the young people. Such exhibitions have intrinsic value of arousing spectators' interest in the games. However, owing
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to the high rate of hiring of grounds and admission taxes, the cost to promoters usually becomes considerably high and the gate money has to be increased to the level far in excess of common means.
To many it becomes a luxury to witness such an exhibition and they soon begin to lose their interest altogether. Organized sports exhibitions have not only an exemplary value but also the good effect of demonstrating how the games should be played. They are most worthy of promoting and stimulating our youths' interest to witness them. They are worthy of even receiving certain government subsidy, not to mention an exemption from amusement taxes.
Some sports such as football, are in a luckier position than others as they can attract much more paying spectators. However, even football fans, I believe, are now feeling the pinching effect of the squeeze from the high rate of hiring of grounds and taxes. Others, however, are not so fortunate and many of the worthwhile sports activities are held back on account of their handicapped positions. Take athletic meet, for instance, it is, fundamentally, the kind of sports that we should try our best to promote. But to sponsor an athletic meet, with no potential gate receipt value, taxes very heavily the financial resources of the sponsoring body. To promote this kind of sports, some degree of subvention from the public fund is urgently called for. Otherwise, if they are allowed to rely solely on voluntary effect, the prospect of gaining good progress in this field will obviously be very dim. For this is where 'the spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak'.
I do not attempt here to debate on the question of whether amusement taxes should be levied on gate receipt for sports activities. The fact is that a considerable amount of taxes is being collected from sports exhibitions. Under the principle of what we take from sports we should spend on sports, it is not too much to expect that a good amount of money should be set aside in the budget for the promotion of community sports in Hong Kong. I believe no one will question on the rightful place of sports in the use of public funds.
I would like to come back to the Asian Games. As we all know the current one will be held next month in Bangkok. That is the place where I spent my last weekend. Two years ago, I expressed the hope that, Hong Kong might attempt to bid for the games to be held here. I understand that the date for application has already been closed for the Asian Games in 1970. I now express the hope that Hong Kong should aim at playing host to the 1974 Asian Games. I would like now to invite some expressions of public opinion as to the desirability of holding such games in Hong Kong. I hope our sports enthusiasts with their expert knowledge, experiences and interest, will be able to tell us whether we have the suitable personnel, facilities and financial resources for the holding of such big games and to make a
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344
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
certain advantage of letting individual development to take its own course, the lack of a central body to give guidance and co-ordination will unavoidably cause some loss in efficiency both of helpers as well as the use of facilities. This is the reason why I have tried again and again to point out that we need a central body for the co-ordination and promotion of sports in Hong Kong in order to attain a more fruitful result.
In his report on a survey of 'Recreation for Young People' in Hong Kong, Mr. K. L. GILL of the Central Council of Physical Educa- tion of England made the same recommendation that Government should appoint a committee to act as an advisory group to Government on matters concerning community sports and recreation. He also recommended that a Community Sports and Recreation Officer should be appointed to work under this Council and that this officer might also serve as a secretary to this advisory committee.
In order that this committee can play a more effective role as a Sports Advisory Group to Government, its membership should include: representatives of the Education Department, Urban Services and Social Welfare Departments and also from the Sports Federation and other interested sports organizations or individuals. With such inclusions, the Committee is in a better position to push on with the various sports development schemes and to make detailed survey and to compile reports of up-to-date colony-wide development. This committee may also offer aid to private organizations to help solve their various difficulties in problems concerning grounds, administration or finance. It may also recommend to Government for subvention to deserving cases. It shall also undertake the job of sponsoring training courses.
I reckon that this Committee can be formed under a similar pattern as that of the Hong Kong Council of Social Welfare. May we call it "The Hong Kong Council of Sports and Recreations'. Of course, the smooth functioning of this Committee needs the full support of Govern- ment recognizing its share of responsibility in the task of promoting community Sports and Recreations.
We are now facing the very serious problem in the shortage of qualified sports instructors and coaches in Hong Kong. It is inex- plicable that among a population of 4 million people with one million students, we do not have even one single school for Physical Education. This is an example to show that Government has not sufficiently recognized the importance of Community Sports.
Many types of sports and games can be sponsored in the form of matches and exhibitions which are capable of attracting a good crowd of spactators among the young people. Such exhibitions have intrinsic value of arousing spectators' interest in the games. However, owing
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
345
to the high rate of hiring of grounds and admission taxes, the cost to promoters usually becomes considerably high and the gate money has to be increased to the level far in excess of common means.
To many it becomes a luxury to witness such an exhibition and they soon begin to lose their interest altogether. Organized sports exhibitions have not only an exemplary value but also the good effect of demonstrating how the games should be played. They are most worthy of promoting and stimulating our youths' interest to witness them. They are worthy of even receiving certain government subsidy, not to mention an exemption from amusement taxes.
Some sports such as football, are in a luckier position than others as they can attract much more paying spectators. However, even foot- ball fans, I believe, are now feeling the pinching effect of the squeeze from the high rate of hiring of grounds and taxes. Others, however, are not so fortunate and many of the worthwhile sports activities are held back on account of their handicapped positions. Take athletic meet, for instance, it is, fundamentally, the kind of sports that we should try our best to promote. But to sponsor an athletic meet, with no potential gate receipt value, taxes very heavily the financial resources of the sponsoring body. To promote this kind of sports, some degree of subvention from the public fund is urgently called for. Otherwise, if they are allowed to rely solely on voluntary effect, the prospect of gaining good progress in this field will obviously be very dim. For this is where 'the spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak'.
I do not attempt here to debate on the question of whether amusement taxes should be levied on gate receipt for sports activities. The fact is that a considerable amount of taxes is being collected from sports exhibitions. Under the principle of what we take from sports we should spend on sports, it is not too much to expect that a good amount of money should be set aside in the budget for the promotion of com- munity sports in Hong Kong. I believe no one will question on the rightful place of sports in the use of public funds.
I would like to come back to the Asian Games. As we all know the current one will be held next month in Bangkok. That is the place where I spent my last weekend. Two years ago, I expressed the hope that, Hong Kong might attempt to bid for the games to be held here. I understand that the date for application has already been closed for the Asian Games in 1970. I now express the hope that Hong Kong should aim at playing host to the 1974 Asian Games. I would like now to invite some expressions of public opinion as to the desirability of holding such games in Hong Kong. I hope our sports enthusiasts with their expert knowledge, experiences and interest, will be able to tell us whether we have the suitable personnel, facilities and financial resources for the holding of such big games and to make a
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