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in the Ko Shan Theatre in order to ensure its popularity and viability. Active consideration is being given to improve ventilation of the stage area and the covered portion of the theatre.

and

Efforts will be made to maintain and improve the existing facilities services in the Aberdeen Cultural Centre and to promote its maximum usage by presenting appropriate activities and through marketing efforts.

The original intention of the Council is to provide a network of purpose-built cultural facilities at the district level on a flexible population basis of 1:200,000–200,000 and will be located in high-rise complexes which the Council will construct over the next few years. Backed by the experiences through usage of Ko Shan Theatre and Aberdeen Cultural Centre, the Council will re-assess the present and anticipated future requirement of cultural venues on a district, regional and territory-wide basis. With due consideration to available venues provided by other organizations and government departments, the Council will work out a revised comprehensive plan of district, regional and territory-wide cultural centres to be geographically and evenly spread out in the urban area. Detailed study of the facilities to be provided in the cultural centres will be carried out in order to ensure optimum provision of facilities based on anticipated requirement, e.g., auditorium of appropriate seating capacity in regional centres. We have to ensure maximum usage as we are constantly conscious of the cost-effectiveness of the operation.

1983-84 is a busy year for the Urban Council in sports promotion. With a budget of $9 million, the Council would have successfully organized over 170 sports and recreational projects, ranging from district and venue-oriented events to international and Asian regional tournaments, involving an increasingly larger sector of the community.

For the first half of the year up to the end of September 1983, a total of 130 local and 27 international events were organized. As a rule, programmes supported by the Council must be accessible to the public.

Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the number of these activities which are largely attributable to the completion of the international standard facility, the Hong Kong Coliseum, which has a seating capacity of 12,500 and most up-to-date facilities. Since its opening in April 1983, the local public have witnessed some of the most exciting competitions and exhibition matches, such as the 5-a-side soccer tournament participated by ten local First Division teams, which attracted a crowd of 21,500 for the two-day tournament. The tennis exhibition match between top-ranking players, Ivan Lendl and Yannick Noah, enabled the public to see the world's top tennis players in action. Other notable programmes are the 12th Asian Basketball Championship for Men at the Coliseum involving 15 countries and territories, and the Urban Council Centenary Cup Golden Jubilee Hockey Tournament held at King's Park which attracted participation from over 10 countries and territories.

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The Queen Elizabeth Stadium, designed essentially as a sports venue, is venue for important sporting events. During the year the Urban another major

Council has been instrumental in staging significant local sporting events in the arena so that these events may enjoy a larger spectatorship.

More effort will be exerted in marketing the Hong Kong Coliseum as an important international sports and entertainment centre with the purpose of attracting top-quality entertainment events and international sport functions to Hong Kong for the enjoyment of the Hong Kong people. Such marketing activities will not only enhance the position of the Hong Kong Coliseum but will also help the Hong Kong Coliseum to be financially viable and self-supporting. With the completion of the annexe building next to the Hong Kong Coliseum in summer this year where restaurants will be provided, I am confident that our aim of the Hong Kong Coliseum becoming self-supporting can be achieved. In the meantime, the rental subsidy scheme will be further reviewed in order to help non-profit-making organizations to organize worthwhile events with large spectator attendances in the Coliseum.

The Council intends to reserve the Hong Kong Coliseum for the purpose of recreational ice skating during certain periods in a year when the usage is fairly slack. Such additional introduction of recreational activities will be welcome by the general public, especially the youngsters who will be happy to explore new fields of venture for their leisure enjoyment. Experiment will be carried out to place wooden flooring with suitable insulation on top of the ice skating rink so that other activities could also be held in the arena during the period reserved for ice skating. Such flexible arrangement can ensure maximum utilization of the facilities and will help to make the Hong Kong Coliseum self-supporting.

The Council has four performing companies under its direct management through the Urban Services Department. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre are already in the 7th professional season. These performing companies have fully established their position in Hong Kong and are well supported by Hong Kong audiences. They have also earned high reputation in their top-quality performances internationally. Up to now these companies are fully subsidized and managed by the Council. It is about time for us to review the operation and management of these companies with the view of changing the companies to independent organizations and inviting government and community leaders to participate in the management. Such move would further enhance the position of the companies in bringing the companies closer to the general public in both urban areas and New Territories and raise the standard to an even higher horizon without increase in subsidy from this Council.

The Council has always emphasized its relation with the District Boards. Through the dedication, knowledge and experience of the Members of the District Boards, the Council has far more feedback than before on the actual