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CHAIRMAN:-I think they do. I don't think the children referred to in the question played in the Sand Monopoly sand heaps. It was a private company, I am afraid, Mr. FORSGATE.
MR. FORSGATE:-Well, possibly, at least then they should ensure that precautions are taken.
(11) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-
Could consideration be given by this Council to a more positive approach to recreational activities for our youth so that they can also actively prepare themselves to compete in international games? The present youth recreational activities merely fill in leisure time without producing much meaningful results and youth may still feel frustrated after such recreational activities.
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
This question relates to recreational activities organized for young people by this Council. I am obliged to Mr. Hu for asking it.
At present, the Council presents an entertainment programme aimed mainly at young people in the poorer areas, the Education Department organizes programmes of physical recreation for schools and the Social Welfare Department is introducing a playleadership scheme in playgrounds managed by the Council.
These activities provide an interesting range for young people. The programme presented by the Council, for example, includes variety shows, film shows, Chinese operas, fun fairs, band concerts (of both Chinese and Western music), roller-skating competitions, horticultural trips, dances, Chinese chess tournaments, swimming parties, and camps. During the summer, about 65 events are presented each month and during the winter, when the weather is unsuitable for such activities as swimming parties, camps and open-air dances, about 35 events a month.
However, the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee recognises, as Mr. Hu knows, that there is a gap in the present arrangements for providing and encouraging active recreation among young people in that, although the Education Department caters for sporting needs of those at school, there is no overall provision for those who have left school. The Recreation and Amenities Select Committee has therefore asked the department to look into the possibility of setting up a section within the Recreation and Amenities Division to organize sporting activities in public recreation areas in the same way as the Entertainment Section organizes the activities to which I have referred previously. The Select Committee hopes that the Government will take early measures to engage the staff that will be necessary to ensure optimum use of our public recreational facilities. We are gravely concerned and will do all we can to ensure that full and proper utilization of all such play opportunities will be made possible without delay.
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MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. SALES for his very good answer. I also wish to say in public that the Council and the Urban Services Department should be praised for their close attention to recreation for young people in Hong Kong. However, the question which I asked is left to be not answered. (Laughter). The question which I asked is "Could consideration be given by this Council to a more positive approach to recreational activities for our youth so that they also can actively prepare themselves to compete in international games." Mr. Chairman, this is another category of the recreational activities for the young, and may I say that Mr. SALES really did not answer my point?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am sorry, I am sure you don't want me to read the last paragraph of my answer again, but I would direct Mr. Hu to that. We must have the staff and he, as a member of the Committee, knows that without staff we cannot organize the activities which prepare youth for those competitions which Mr. Hu has in view and I, perhaps more than anyone else, am more concerned that this should take place as early as possible in order to give positive support through Government to the excellent work that is done on a voluntary basis by so many people in Hong Kong through the various sports clubs and associations.
MR. LO TAK-SHING: Mr. Chairman, one supplementary on paragraph 2. It refers to the Social Welfare Department introducing a playleadership scheme in playgrounds managed by the Council. Is the Social Welfare Department introducing these schemes or, Mr. Chairman, in fact are there private agencies, if you like, subsidized through the Social Welfare Department who are going to introduce the schemes or both?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am glad that Mr. T. S. Lo has given me the opportunity to pay tribute to the work done by the Chinese Y.M.C.A. and the Children's Playground Association. This
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CHAIRMAN:-I think they do. I don't think the children referred to in the question played in the Sand Monopoly sand heaps. It was a private company, I am afraid, Mr. FORSGATE.
MR. FORSGATE:-Well, possibly, at least then they should ensure that precautions are taken.
(11) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-
Could consideration be given by this Council to a more positive approach to recreational activities for our youth so that they can also actively prepare themselves to compete in international games? The present youth recreational activities merely fill in leisure time without producing much meaningful results and youth may still feel frustrated after such recreational activities.
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
This question relates to recreational activities organized for young people by this Council. I am obliged to Mr. Hu for asking it.
At present, the Council presents an entertainment programme aimed mainly at young people in the poorer areas, the Education Department organizes programmes of physical recreation for schools and the Social Welfare Department is introducing a playleadership scheme in playgrounds managed by the Council.
These activities provide an interesting range for young people. The programme presented by the Council, for example, includes variety shows, film shows, Chinese operas, fun fairs, band concerts (of both Chinese and Western music), roller-skating competitions, horticultural trips, dances, Chinese chess tournaments, swimming parties, and camps. During the summer, about 65 events are presented each month and during the winter, when the weather is unsuit- able for such activities as swimming parties, camps and open air dances, about 35 events a month.
However, the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee recognises, as Mr. Hu knows, that there is a gap in the present arrangements for providing and encouraging active recreation among young people in that, although the Education Department caters for sporting needs of those at school, there is no overall provision for those who have
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
411
left school. The Recreation and Amenities Select Com- mittee has therefore asked the department to look into the possibility of setting up a section within the Recreation and Amenities Division to organize sporting activities in public recreation areas in the same way as the Entertain- ment Section organizes the activities to which I have referred previously. The Select Committee hopes that the Government will take early measures to engage the staff that will be necessary to ensure optimum use of our public recreational facilities. We are gravely concerned and will do all we can to ensure that full and proper utilization of all such play opportunities will be made possible without delay.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. SALES for his very good answer. I also wish to say in public that the Council and the Urban Services Department should be praised for their close attention to recreation for young people in Hong Kong. However, the question which I asked is left to be not answered. (Laughter). The question which I asked is "Could consideration be given by this Council to a more positive approach to recreational activities for our youth so that they also can actively prepare themselves to compete in international games." Mr. Chairman, this is another category of the recreational activities for the young, and may I say that Mr. SALES really did not answer my point?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am sorry, I am sure you don't want me to read the last paragraph of my answer again, but I would direct Mr. Hu to that. We must have the staff and he, as a member of the Committee, knows that without staff we cannot organize the activities which prepare youth for those competitions which Mr. Hu has in view and I, perhaps more than anyone else, am more concerned that this should take place as early as possible in order to give positive support through Government to the excellent work that is done on a voluntary basis by so many people in Hong Kong through the various sports clubs and associations.
MR. LO TAK-SHING: Mr. Chairman, one supplementary on para- graph 2. It refers to the Social Welfare Department introducing a playleadership scheme in playgrounds managed by the Council. Is the Social Welfare Department introducing these schemes or, Mr. Chairman, in fact are there private agencies, if you like, subsidized through the Social Welfare Department who are going to introduce the schemes or both?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I am glad that Mr. T. S. Lo has given me the opportunity to pay tribute to the work done by the Chinese Y.M.C.A. and the Children's Playground Association. This
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