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may expect future plans to be the joint work of my staff and those of other government departments and neighbourhood groups.

But, of course, for any great increase in our activities to meet all the demands being placed on us, we shall as always have to depend on the allocation of sites, and my colleague the Director of Public Works ensures that his department does all it can to help in this respect.

Regarding Mr. SALES' comments on the need for better management of existing facilities and the formation of a recreation service, I am glad to assure Members that these needs are recognized. Consideration of these matters has now reached an advanced stage in the Secretariat and an announcement may be expected soon.

Mr. NG has drawn attention to the need to improve both field and track facilities. This has also been recognized for some time and action is in hand to effect the necessary improvements. Expenditure of $27,455 was approved at the September meeting of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for the purchase of suitable equipment to replace existing high jump sandpits in our urban sports grounds while, during the coming summer, we hope to secure the reconstruction of the running track at the Hong Kong Stadium in preparation for the start of the next sporting season. The track at Kowloon Tsai was re-laid recently to the same rubberized all-weather formula as at Aberdeen Sports Ground, but the result has not been up to expecta- tions. We are continuing to look into the position with the assistance of the Public Works Department.

Mr. No bas also proposed providing an indoor pool for training purposes. The need for training is recognized, but we are not convinced that once the present swimming pool programme is completed, the need for a special training pool will exist, since non-exclusive or exclusive use of pools for specialized needs forms an important part of the Council's management policy. It may be, therefore, that, in the meantime, as this programme proceeds, we shall be able to meet any special training requirements. I shall ask the Recreation and Amenities Division to look into this more closely-for consideration by the Select Committee concerned.

Mr. MACKENZIE has enquired about the swimming pool pro- gramme. The position there is that

(a) work is proceeding on the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool complex which should perhaps be finalized by the end of 1973; (b) the Tai Wan (Hung Hom) heated swimming pool project will be submitted for upgrading to Category A early next year-- completion date, possibly, the end of 1974;

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(c) in Category B, the Hammer Hill Pool project is under active

inter-departmental consideration;

(d) the project for a diving pool and a teaching pool at Victoria Park is also in Category B. There has been difficulty over the actual siting of these pools, but it is hoped to bring firm proposals to the Committee soon;

(e) in Category C, are the pools at Chai Wan and Kowloon Park on which little progress can be made until they are upgraded to Category B.

As far as I am aware, there is not likely to be any particular difficulty over the provision of funds for our swimming pools, which the Council wishes to see built at the rate of one per 250,000 people.

Both Mr. SALES and Mr. CHEONG-LEEN referred to the need to take more of the cultural entertainment offerings out into the more densely populated areas, so that they are available to people without necessarily imposing upon them the requirements to travel to the city centres. Of course, to a certain extent this is already being done; and I am sure that if the department does acquire the mobile stage which has been included in the submissions for next year's estimates, there will be much further activity in this connection. Also, if more civic or community centres are developed, the opportunities for us to extend our activities will be much greater. However, we are not waiting for these developments, but are already working on plans to expand some of our present offerings. For example, when the small extension for the City Museum and Art Gallery (by the conversion of the barrack buildings in Kowloon Park) is completed, it is envisaged that this will provide a base for which many exhibitions will be sent to various centres in the urban area, and discussions are proceeding fruitfully between the Curator and the Senior Librarian which should lead to the use of the branches of the public library service for the mounting of these exhibitions. Papers on this matter will be presented to the appropriate Select Committee in due course. But it is envisaged that, with this usage of the branch libraries, the inhabitants of and near Yau Ma Tei and Ping Shek and Wah Fu/Aberdeen will have even more convenient opportunities to see material prepared by the staff of the Museum and Art Gallery.

Mr. Kenneth Lo makes a plea for more financial assistance for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Of course, Members are well aware that this Orchestra is already receiving direct and indirect assist- ance. Most of the concerts given by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in the City Hall are presented jointly with the Urban Council and, thereby, the Orchestra receives the entire box office receipts, has no rental charges to pay and has all its publicity and business manage-

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