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or provide funds for equipment and activities all of which is very time consuming. Although they provide valuable service to our community, many organizations cannot afford to have their own offices and paid staff or secretary. Such organizations provide service to our com- munity as much as and as important as any voluntary agencies which receive subvention from the Government. We fully appreciate the contribution and efforts rendered by these individuals whose support we can always rely on in future. However, now is the time for the Government to bear a bigger responsibility and to be more active and more generous in providing funds so that such organizations can be more effective. Instead of providing financial assistance on case by case basis, overall review should be carried out and annual subvention granted to those well constituted and managed sports organizations.

I am pleased to note that the Government has accepted the recom- mendation of the Council for Recreation and Sports to set up District Recreation and Sports Officer Scheme and that six District Officers have been appointed in the first stage. The Scheme will be fully imple- mented in three stages, second stage to be carried out in 1975-76 when additional seven District Officers and supporting staff for the existing officers will be appointed, and third and final stage to be carried out in 1976-77 when remaining four District Officers in new town in New Territories and all supporting staff will be appointed. The opera- tion and activities expenditure for the first stage, amounting to HK$763,000.00 from 1st October, 1974 to 31st March, 1975, is covered by a direct grant from the Governor's Special Fund. The Government has agreed in principle to bear the cost of the Scheme from 1st April, 1975 onwards. The Scheme has had a good start and has received very favourable comments and reaction from the general public. This is a very worthy project which helps to improve the life of Hong Kong people. Such project, unlike capital investment, must carry on the momentum in order to derive the full benefit. Any setback or delay in this project will seriously impair the development and progress. The Government should be congratulated on the undertaking of this proj- ect and I do hope that the Government will honour its commitment in giving full financial support to this Scheme.

This Council is also taking very active part in the field of recreation which has entertainment value to both the participants and spectators. Before the appointment of District recreation and sports officers, this Council already took the initiative of organizing district sports com- petition and training courses in corporation with the major sports associations, including football, miniature football, basketball, volley- ball, tennis, table tennis, cycling, field and track, etc. Our aim is to

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supplement not to compete or take over tournaments already organized. We are to serve as catalyst in this respect. As a result of our activities, more youth could participate in organized and healthy recreation at district level. Our total estimated expenditure of entertainment and recreation programme in 1974-75 is HK$1,500,000.00 out of which Our entertainment HK$300,000.00 is spent on recreation programme. programme has been expanded and improved steadily both in quantity and quality and is catered for young and old, men and women. tainment events organized can be briefly classified into the following categories:

1.

Cantonese Opera

2.

Variety show and musical comedies

3.

Band concert, both Western and Chinese

4.

Puppet Show

5.

Youth Dance

6.

Film Show

7.

Children Party

Enter-

All events are carefully reviewed and evaluated in order to further improve the quality and/or content and to ensure that the money is well spent. Through our entertainment programme, we support and revive many otherwise dying traditional Chinese Art. We are now in the course of introducing Cantonese lyric and dialogue to Fukienese puppet show so as to improve the popularity. All entertainment events are evenly carried out in the urban areas. In 1974 nearly 1,200,000 people enjoyed and/or participated in our Entertainment and Recreation Programmes. When our new mobile stage is properly fitted in the very near future, I believe that our entertainment programme will reach far more people than ever before.

Mr. Chairman, with those remarks, I support the motion. (Ap- plause).

(Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI left at this point.)

MR. ALEX S. C. Wu (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, the people of Hong Kong have once again demonstrated agile flexibility to stem the flood of economic crisis that has troubled the whole world. This unique quality has helped maintain economic and social stability, thus enabling the Council's work to be carried out without any hinderance.

Reviewing the Council's work in the past year, we have seen satisfactory progress; the outstanding ones being (a) service to the

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