1983 — Page 33

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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.

## MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 1983 were confirmed.

## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—

Urban Council's expanding role in sports promotion

In 1973 when the Urban Council's Sports Promotion Programme was first launched, the sports promotion budget was only a modest sum of $200,000. The budget was increased to $2 million in 1978-79 and in 1982-83, the budget reached $6 million. Along with the budgetary growth was the sizeable expansion of the scope of programme which now covers a wide range of activities in most forms of sports.

Not only has the Council been involved over the years in organizing and promoting sports and recreational activities, but it has also placed much effort in developing modern facilities where sports activities can take place.

The sports and recreational facilities which are under the Council's management range from playgrounds, outdoor courts for various ball game activities, bowling greens, roller skating rinks, fitness tracks, squash courts, games halls and swimming pools, which are well located in the urban districts, to well-equipped indoor and outdoor stadia and sports grounds which are suitable for holding competitions at international level. Some of the major facilities built in recent years are the Wanchai Sports Ground, opened in February 1979, with the provision of world-class facilities and equipment for various levels of athletic and field competitions; the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, opened in August 1980 with a capacity of 3,500 spectators for indoor sports events; the artificial turf King's Park Hockey Ground, opened in October 1981 and inaugurated by the Junior World Cup Hockey Qualifying Tournament which had a participation of 10 countries/territories in the Australasian region; the 17-court Hong Kong Tennis Centre at Wong Nei Chung, also opened in 1981 and which is the largest public tennis facility in Hong Kong to date; the Hong Kong Coliseum, opened in April 1983, which can accommodate up to 12,500 spectators and is Asia's largest multi-purpose indoor stadia with an ultra-modern design for spectator sports and mass entertainment programmes.

The sports promotion budget in 1982-83 was $6 million, with which the Council, in conjunction with governing sports associations, community organizations and various Government departments, presented a total of 218 sports projects in two years, as compared to 150 in 1980, representing a growth of 45 percent.

In the current year, 1983-84, the Council has budgeted $9 million for further expansion of the programme. With the development of more advanced facilities both outdoor and indoor, coupled with the fast-growing need for more activities to be organized at district level, it is envisaged that the expansion rate in the next few years will be even more necessary and substantial.

In the planning of activities, special emphasis has been given to organizing more sports competitions which have wide spectator appeal, activities for youths, the disabled and district and venue-oriented activities, all of which have experienced continued growth over the past few years.

As regards spectator sports, over 130 sports competitions were presented in 1982-83, representing 60 percent of the total number of projects presented. Among them, 26 projects involved participation of overseas teams, all of which were well attended and supported by the public.

Special attention was paid in recent years to increasing opportunities for participation in sports activities by our young generation, so as to develop their potential for sports excellence as well as to promote general physical fitness. Some 60 sports projects were organized in 1982-83, especially for young people, representing 15 percent of the total sports promotion fund spent in that year.

The major projects presented included two sports development schemes in football and tennis, as well as a sports training programme for school children, organized jointly with the Education Department and with the assistance of various governing sports associations throughout the summer vacation. Most of these projects have continued in the current year on an expanded scale. New development schemes aimed at improving sporting standards on a long-term basis, as well as international competitions, are being added to the list of youth programmes supported by the Council.

Alongside the increased emphasis on youth activities is the Council's growing involvement in sports activities at district level. In 1982-83, the Urban Council, working with District Boards and local district sports bodies, successfully organized some 18 district-oriented sports projects.

Currently, three Regional Cultural Services Officers serve on the Community Building Committees of the urban District Boards and many other ad hoc committees concerning sports, recreation and culture. Through their participation, the Council has been able to maintain close liaison with the District Boards and district organizations and positively contribute to the District Administration Scheme by providing support to sports and other community-building projects.

Also on the upsurge are sports activities organized and sponsored by the Urban Council for the disabled, with the objective of fostering integration of the disabled in our society through participation in sports, social and recreational activities. With funds provided by the Council, competitions in bowling and table...

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