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One thing to recall is that play leadership is still a field where the few experts in other countries admit that they are still feeling their way; brash and hasty attempts to introduce it as a trendy concept could be disastrous for the children, and weaken the authority of those who are so sensibly advancing cautiously.
It will be obvious to all that the Council have an important role to play in the provision of recreation and cultural facilities and anything we can do to support the development of these facilities will make a worthwhile contribution to the fight against the spread of juvenile violence.
Mrs. SYMONS has asked for some indication of what is being planned by the Co-ordinating Committee for Youth and Recreation, and advocates a central authority to be responsible for recreation and leisure. At the same time, Mr. RAFEEK has put in a plea for winter youth programmes in addition to the summer ones. Mr. RAFEEK is, of course, wrong in thinking that these recreational programmes are confined to the summer. They continue throughout the year, although it is true that the main emphasis is placed on programmes during the summer holidays. This is because these holidays are by far the longest break during the year, so that both customers and helpers are available for longer periods. The weather is also more suitable for outdoor activities such as camping, swimming, and so on.
In fact, the Co-ordinating Committee's first report, dealing with the 1969 Programme of Summer Youth Activities, has just been published and I now table a copy, and copies will be sent to Members in due course. Copies of the report in Chinese will also be available shortly and will be sent to the many hundreds of organizations who are actively concerned with youth and recreation.
One of the Committee's recommendations was that district co-ordinating committees should be set up throughout the Colony in time to co-ordinate preparations for the 1970 programmes. Fifteen such committees, most of them with unofficial chairmen, were in fact set up earlier this year and have proved most useful, particularly with regard to the important task of matching leisure-time programmes to the local needs of each district.
The second report of the Co-ordinating Committee is now being drafted and copies will be made available to Members of this Council as soon as they are ready.
Now that a network of district co-ordinating committees complements the Central Co-ordinating Committee, the stage has been reached where it is possible to consider developing this machinery so that it
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
359
can co-ordinate forward planning in the field of leisure-time activities for young people.
But it is necessary to sound a note of caution in this connection. The number of organizations concerned with leisure-time activities for young people runs into hundreds. Many of these have executive responsibilities which must be respected; some, such as this Council, have statutory responsibilities which must be taken fully into account. It is therefore necessary to move forward step by step, taking care to obtain the support of all those concerned.
Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN suggests that Stonecutters' Island be de-militarized and turned into a recreational area. I'm afraid there is no likelihood of this being done within the foreseeable future. The Services still have a continuing requirement for the island. One would perhaps like to think, however, that one day they might be reprovisioned elsewhere.
I note that Mr. BERNACCHI has for some reason or other begun to assume the role of horticultural critic. It is true that we have planted fewer shrubs this year than last - some 51,500 so far as against 74,000 for the whole of last year. But this was, lest he think otherwise, with the agreement of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee. The proportion of flowering shrubs has, however, risen slightly and we have also planted double the number of flowering trees - 13,500 compared with 6,700 last year, while the number of seasonal flowers planted this year (between 130,000 and 140,000) already exceeds the 123,000 of last year - and, unlike for trees and shrubs, there is still good planting weather to come. We are indeed taking steps to improve both the technical expertise and the administration of the Recreation and Amenities Division's horticultural section. A Senior Amenities Officer is about to be appointed to take charge of both the parks and playgrounds and horticultural sections, while the vacant horticultural Amenities Officer post has just been filled by internal promotion. In addition, 2 Amenities Assistants are in Australia obtaining diplomas in horticulture, while a third returned thence earlier this year (also with a diploma).
In regard to the Council's cultural programme, it will be obvious to the public that important projects deserve and have to be given very careful consideration with consultation of all who are constitutionally involved or affected, including both the relevant Select Committees and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, and this frequently and necessarily calls for considerable time.
Some Members have cited the projected new premises for the Museum as an example of needless delays. In fact, for an important project such as this, to ensure as good a solution as is practicable
Page 189 of 24
f241
Page 189 of 241
358
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
One thing to tical interest they have shown in this important field. remember is that playleadership is still a field where the few experts in other countries admit that they are still feeling their way; brash and hasty attempts to introduce it as a trendy concept could be disastrous for the children, and weaken the authority of those who are so sensibly advancing cautiously.
It will be obvious to all that the Council have an important role to play in the provision of recreation and cultural facilities and any- thing we can do to support the development of these facilities will make a worthwhile contribution to the fight against the spread of juvenile violence.
Mrs. SYMONS has asked for some indication of what is being planned by the Co-ordinating Committee for Youth and Recreation, and advocates a central authority to be responsible for recreation and leisure. At the same time, Mr. RAFEEK has put in a plea for winter Mr. RAFEEK is, youth programmes in addition to the summer ones. of course, wrong in thinking that these recreational programmes are confined to the summer. They continue throughout the year, although it is true that the main emphasis is placed on programmes during the summer holidays. This is because these holidays are by far the longest break during the year, so that both customers and helpers are available for longer periods. The weather is also more suitable for outdoor activities such as camping, swimming, and so on.
In fact, the Co-ordinating Committee's first report, dealing with the 1969 Programme of Summer Youth Activities, has just been pub- lished and I now table a copy, and copies will be sent to Members in due course. Copies of the report in Chinese will also be available shortly and will be sent to the many hundreds of organizations who are actively concerned with youth and recreation.
One of the Committee's recommendations was that district co- ordinating committees should be set up throughout the Colony in time Fifteen such to co-ordinate preparations for the 1970 programmes. committees, most of them with unofficial chairmen, were in fact set up earlier this year and have proved most useful, particularly with regard to the important task of matching leisure-time programmes to the local needs of each district.
The second report of the Co-ordinating Committee is now being drafted and copies will be made available to Members of this Council as soon as they are ready.
Now that a network of district co-ordinating committees comple- ments the Central Co-ordinating Committee, the stage has been reached where it is possible to consider developing this machinery so that it
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
359
can co-ordinate forward planning in the field of leisure-time activities for young people.
But it is necessary to sound a note of caution in this connection. The number of organizations concerned with leisure-time activities for young people runs into hundreds. Many of these have executive re- sponsibilities which must be respected; some, such as this Council, have statutory responsibilities which must be taken fully into account, It is therefore necessary to move forward step by step, taking care to obtain the support of all those concerned.
Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN suggests that Stonecutters' Island be de- militarized and turned into a recreational area. I'm afraid there is no likelihood of this being done within the foreseeable future. The Services still have a continuing requirement for the island. One would perhaps like to think, however, that one day they might be reprovi- sioned elsewhere.
I note that Mr. BERNACCHI has for some reason or other-begun to assume the role of horticultural critic. It is true that we have planted fewer shrubs this year than last some 51,500 so far as against 74,000 for the whole of last year. But this was-lest he think other- wise with the agreement of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee. The proportion of flowering shrubs has, however, risen slightly and we have also planted double the number of flowering trees-13,500 compared with 6,700 last year, while the number of seasonal flowers planted this year (between 130,000 and 140,000) already exceeds the 123,000 of last year-and, unlike for trees and shrubs, there is still good planting weather to come. We are indeed taking steps to improve both the technical expertize and the adminis- tration of the Recreation and Amenities Division's horticultural sec- tion. A Senior Amenities Officer is about to be appointed to take charge of both the parks and playgrounds and horticultural sections, while the vacant horticultural Amenities Officer post has just been filled by internal promotion. In addition, 2 Amenities Assistants are in Australia obtaining diplomas in horticulture, while a third returned thence earlier this year (also with a diploma).
In regard to the Council's cultural programme, it will be obvious to the public that important projects deserve and have to be given very careful consideration with consultation of all who are constitu- tionally involved or affected, including both the relevant Select Com- mittees and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, and this frequently and necessarily calls for considerable time.
Some Members have cited the projected new premises for the Museum as an example of needless delays. In fact, for an important project such as this, to ensure as good a solution as is practicable
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