Page 237 of 243
384
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Mr. Chairman, since our entertainment programme began in April 1968 (and this date coincided approximately with the appointment of the first City District Officers), I have personally, as Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, laid the greatest emphasis on the need for executives of this Council to liaise continually with City District Officers and through them to maintain close contact with kaifongs and other associations to ensure that the needs of people at the district level are known and met wherever possible.
I am told that in the earliest days of our programme, the Assistant Director of the Urban Services Department for Recreation and Amenities joined a meeting chaired by a Deputy Secretary for Chinese Affairs and attended by both City District Commissioners and by all City District Officers, which was convened solely to clarify responsibilities and to ensure a continuing close working relationship.
This amicable and effective beginning has developed into an efficient partnership. Variety shows, concerts, beach outings, a Christmas party, a hill-climbing competition, an attractive lantern procession, and even a party for hawkers, have all been the result of this co-operation.
On the 23rd of this month we shall have an opportunity of seeing the outcome of another joint effort when we, together with the City District Officer, Central, the Social Welfare Department, and the Hong Kong Central Regional Residents Liaison and Services Association, hold our Spring Fair at Blake Garden.
(2) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Are there special recreation programmes planned for children between the ages of 12 to 16, since in this age group there are many children who are not going to school or who are without jobs?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
In raising a question on the need to provide recreation programmes designed specifically for children between the ages of 12 and 16, my friend Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN has happily given me once again an opportunity of outlining some of our achievements in this field and of stating in public this Council's recreation plans for the coming months.
Mr. Chairman, I should make the point at once that the Council's activities in providing public entertainment and recreation were an innovation for the Government and constituted a welcome and imaginative acceptance that there is an incisive role that the Council can play in public life.
From the outset, programmes were designed to attract young people in this age group but it was seldom considered necessary or desirable to exclude those of a different age. Some activities proved popular with a wide section of the public, so I am unable to say with any precision how many of the 150,000 odd people who have so far enjoyed our dances, variety shows, operas, band concerts, serenades, film shows and country walks came from the group with which we are principally concerned.
But some functions were, in fact, carefully restricted to those in this age bracket and when inviting participants through the Liaison Unit of the Resettlement Department and through kaifongs, the department not only stipulated the limits of 12 and 16 years of age, but also encouraged those to join who neither went to school nor belonged to any other organization.
Mr. CHEONG-LEEN may rest assured, then, that only the most deserving were among the thousands of youngsters who enjoyed the series of 21 "Swim-ins", the summer camps organized with the help of the Scout Association, and the outings arranged through the generosity of those private recreation clubs which joined our programme. Last year, the Urban Council's recreation programme was evidently an exploratory venture and designed to test the extent and nature of the demand for our organized activities of this type. The response was overwhelming. Plans for the coming months are well advanced and I am happy to say that the response from organizations which have been invited to help this Council in its efforts to entertain the young people of Hong Kong has so far been at a level which will enable us to vary and expand our programme to include many thousands more of those for whom we share the deep concern of Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
385
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 238 of 243
Page 237 of 243
384
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Mr. Chairman, since our entertainment programme began in April 1968 (and this date coincided approximately with the appointment of the first City District Officers), I have personally, as Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, laid the greatest emphasis on the need for executives of this Council to liaise continually with City District Officers and through them to maintain close contact with kaifongs and other associations to ensure that the needs of people at the district level are known and met wherever possible.
I am told that in the earliest days of our programme, the Assistant Director of the Urban Services Department for Recreation and Amenities joined a meeting chaired by a Deputy Secretary for Chinese Affairs and attended by both City District Commissioners and by all City District Officers, which was convened solely to clarify responsi- bilities and to ensure a continuing close working relation- ship.
This amicable and effective beginning has developed into an efficient partnership. Variety shows, concerts, beach out- ings, a Christmas party, a hill-climbing competition, an attractive lantern procession, and even a party for hawkers, have all been the result of this co-operation.
On the 23rd of this month we shall have an opportunity of seeing the outcome of another joint effort when we, together with the City District Officer, Central, the Social Welfare Department, and the Hong Kong Central Re- gional Residents Liaison and Services Association, hold our Spring Fair at Blake Garden.
(2) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Are there special recreation programmes planned for children between the ages of 12 to 16, since in this age group there are many children who are not going to school or who are without jobs?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
In raising a question on the need to provide recreation pro- grammes designed specificially for children between the ages of 12 and 16, my friend Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
385
has happily given me once again an opportunity of out- lining some of our achievements in this field and of stating in public this Council's recreation plans for the coming months.
Mr. Chairman, I should make the point at once that the Council's activities in providing public entertainment and recreation were an innovation for the Government and constituted a welcome and imaginative acceptance that there is an incisive role that the Council can play in public life.
From the outset, programmes were designed to attract young people in this age group but it was seldom considered necessary or desirable to exclude those of a different age. Some activities proved popular with a wide section of the public, so I am unable to say with any precision how many of the 150,000 odd people who have so far enjoyed our dances, variety shows, operas, band concerts, sere- nades, film shows and country walks came from the group with which we are principally concerned.
But some functions were, in fact, carefully restricted to those in this age bracket and when inviting participants through the Liaison Unit of the Resettlement Department and through kaifongs, the department not only stipulated the limits of 12 and 16 years of age, but also encouraged those to join who neither went to school nor belonged to any other organization.
Mr. CHEONG-LEEN may rest assured, then, that only the most deserving were among the thousands of youngsters who enjoyed the series of 21 "Swim-ins", the summer camps organized with the help of the Scout Association, and the outings arranged through the generosity of those private recreation clubs which joined our programme. Last year, the Urban Council's recreation programme was evidently an exploratory venture and designed to test the extent and nature of the demand for our organized activities of this type. The response was overwhelming. Plans for the coming months are well advanced and I am happy to say that the response from organizations which have been invited to help this Council in its efforts to entertain the young people of Hong Kong has so far been at a level which will enable us to vary and expand our programme to include many thousands more of those for whom we share the deep concern of Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
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