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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before taking the first item on the agenda, I would like all members to stand in silence for one minute in remembrance of the late Sir Sik-nin CHAU, a former member of this Council.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 1985, were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):—In carrying out its long-term and challenging task of bringing about a better, happier and healthier life for the local population, the Urban Council has committed itself deeply to the promotion of sports. As a result of this, sporting events have formed an integral part of the public entertainment and recreation programme provided over the years by the Council for the enjoyment and relaxation of people in their leisure time.
The Council's sports promotion programme was launched in 1973-74 with only five projects and a modest budget of $0.2 million. Since then, the programme has developed to such an extent that in 1984-85 it covered no fewer than 220 projects with an impressive budget of $9 million.
During the year, spectator-orientated sports events continued to attract wide support from the community while new sporting and recreational activities such as roller skating and even the popular chess-like game of 'Go' were introduced. Today the programme covers almost every form of sport, ranging from simple, casual games to participation in Urban Council arenas by professionals from all over the world.
It is no exaggeration to say that as a result of the Council's vigorous efforts in promoting sports the general public, and young people in particular, have taken a keener interest in sports.
Up until last 1 April, the Council's sports programme was coordinated by the Sports Promotion Office, either on its own or in conjunction with Government departments, District Boards, national and private sports bodies and community organizations.
Then when the Urban Services Department took over the responsibilities of the former Recreation and Culture Department in the urban areas from 1 April this year, the Urban Services Department set up a Leisure Services Division to handle the workload. As a result the Council's sports programme now reaches an even wider circle of participants.
The types of programmes run by the Leisure Services Division include instruction courses in sports and dance, recreational 'fun days', as well as major district competitions. These programmes are aimed at meeting district needs for recreation and sport at the grassroots level, encouraging greater community participation and stimulating initiative among local community leaders and organizations to run district activities.
In view of the growing interest among the general public in taking fitness and health courses so as to lead a healthy and happy life, the Urban Council also provides two fitness centres—one on Hong Kong Island and one in Kowloon.
Both centres are air-conditioned and are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. One is the City Lions Club Sports Centre in Happy Valley, which is used by residents of Hong Kong Island, and the other is the To Kwa Wan Sports Centre which caters for people living in Kowloon.
The two centres each comprise a dance room and a fitness room equipped with a 16-station multi-gymnasium, wall bars, exercise bicycles, rowing machines and specialized equipment for training competitive swimmers. In addition, the To Kwa Wan Sports Centre has a lecture room and a fitness room equipped with a 10-station gymnasium specially designed for females.
Both centres are popular and well patronized. In 1984-85 at the To Kwa Wan Sports Centre, no fewer than 31,000 participants took part in 950 projects and a total attendance of more than 154,000 sessions was recorded. On Hong Kong Island, at the City Lions Club Sports Centre, 10,000 participants took part in more than 400 projects and a total attendance of over 108,000 sessions was recorded.
The projects include fitness training courses, yoga, dance courses of various kinds such as folk dance, modern dance, social dance, ballet for children and aerobics.
In the years ahead there will be an even greater demand for the Council's fitness programmes because it is now widely recognized that through fitness programmes, a better physical condition can be attained and the occurrence of cardiovascular and orthopaedic diseases can be minimized. Both young and old in Hong Kong are now well aware that the general effect of exercise is to give one a better mental outlook and improve one's fitness and capacity to cope with daily life.
Another Council-sponsored fitness programme which is well-supported by the general public is 'Tai Chi', which has been practised since the Ming Dynasty and is generally believed to bring both physical and mental benefits to its practitioners.
Page 77 of 195
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Page 77 of 195
122
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before taking the first item on the agenda, I would like all members to stand in silence for one minute in remembrance of the late Sir Sik-nin CHAU, a
former member of this Council.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 1985, were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):—In carrying out its long-term and challenging task of bringing about a better, happier and healthier life for the local population, the Urban Council has committed itself deeply to the promotion of sports. As a result of this, sporting events have formed an integral part of the public entertainment and recreation programme provided over the years by the Council for the enjoyment and relaxation of people in their leisure time.
The Council's sports promotion programme was launched in 1973-74 with only five projects and a modest budget of $0.2 million. Since then, the pro- gramme has developed to such an extent that in 1984-85 it covered no fewer than 220 projects with an impressive budget of $9 million.
During the year, spectator-orientated sports events continued to attract wide support from the community while new sporting and recreational activities such as roller skating and even the popular chess-like game of 'Go' were introduced. Today the programme covers almost every form of sport, ranging from simple, casual games to participation in Urban Council arenas by professionals from all over the world.
It is no exaggeration to say that as a result of the Council's vigorous efforts in promoting sports the general public, and young people in particular, have taken a keener interest in sports.
Up until last 1 April, the Council's sports programme was coordinated by the Sports Promotion Office, either on its own or in conjunction with Government departments, District Boards, national and private sports bodies and com- munity organizations.
Then when the Urban Services Department took over the responsibilities of the former Recreation and Culture Department in the urban areas from 1 April
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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123
this year, the Urban Services Department set up a Leisure Services Division to handle the workload. As a result the Council's sports programme now reaches an even wider circle of participants.
The types of programmes run by the Leisure Services Division include instruction courses in sports and dance, recreational 'fun days', as well as major district competitions. These programmes are aimed at meeting district needs for recreation and sport at the grassroots level, encouraging greater community participation and stimulating initiative among local community leaders and organizations to run district activities.
In view of the growing interest among the general public in taking fitness and health courses so as to lead a healthy and happy life, the Urban Council also provides two fitness centres- -one on Hong Kong Island and one in Kowloon.
Both centres are air-conditioned and are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. One is the City Lions Club Sports Centre in Happy Valley, which is used by residents of Hong Kong Island, and the other is the To Kwa Wan Sports Centre which caters for people living in Kowloon.
The two centres each comprise a dance room and a fitness room equipped with a 16-station multi-gymnasium, wall bars, exercise bicycles, rowing machines and specialized equipment for training competitive swimmers. In addition, the To Kwa Wan Sports Centre has a lecture room and a fitness room equipped with a 10-station gymnasium specially designed for females.
Both centres are popular and well patronized. In 1984-85 at the To Kwan Wan Sports Centre, no fewer than 31 000 participants took part in 950 projects and a total attendance of more than 154 000 sessions was recorded. On Hong Kong Island, at the City Lions Club Sports Centre, 10 000 participants took part in more than 400 projects and a total attendance of over 108 000 sessions was recorded.
The projects include fitness training courses, yoga, dance courses of various kinds such as folk dance, modern dance, social dance, ballet for children and aerobics.
In the years ahead there will be an even greater demand for the Council's fitness programmes because it is now widely recognized that through fitness programmes, a better physical condition can be attained and the occurrence of cardio vascular and orthopaedic diseases can be minimized. Both young and old in Hong Kong are now well aware that the general effect of exercise is to give one a better mental outlook and improve one's fitness and capacity to cope with daily life.
Another Council-sponsored fitness programme which is well-supported by the general public is 'Tai Chi', which has been practised since the Ming Dynasty and is generally believed to bring both physical and mental benefits to its practitioners.
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