ENG-1960 — Page 344

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SPORT AND RECREATION

The Hong Kong Stadium, operated by the Hong Kong Football Association, was used on many occasions during the year for football matches, athletic meetings, rallies, training sessions, re- hearsals, the Walkathon and the Annual Parades of the Police and the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force. Kaifong Associations used other playgrounds for Chinese opera performances in aid of charities.

By arrangement with the Police, the armed forces, St John Ambulance Brigade and other local bands, regular concerts were held in public gardens and playgrounds in the urban areas. All these concerts were popular, particularly when the programme included marching and counter-marching.

To promote children's recreation and enjoyment, a model boat pool in Victoria Park and two children's libraries (one in Victoria Park and the other in Argyle Street Playground) were completed at the end of the year. New equipment, such as plane swings, 'ocean waves', non-bumper seesaws, rocking boats and joy wheels, was installed in many playgrounds.

The Victoria Park Swimming Pool was built to Olympic standards in 1957 from funds given by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. The main purpose of the pool is to give pleasure to poorer people, especially their children, and the admission fees are low, (30 cents for children, and 50 cents for adults). There are also special reduced rates for organized groups of school-children (5 cents for children over 14 years and 3 cents under 14). Large numbers of children sponsored by welfare and other agencies are also admitted free. 177,215 children and 168,967 adults used the pool during the year and many galas and competitions were held.

Kowloon has previously had cause to envy Hong Kong Island its Victoria Park Swimming Pool, but work is shortly to start on an equally attractive park and swimming pool at Kowloon Tsai. This big scheme, towards which the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club has generously donated $2,000,000 for a swimming pool, will extend over 35 acres and will include playing fields, tennis courts, bowling greens and a children's playground and a library. The swimming pool is to have separate areas for com- petitive swimmers, diving, a general bathing area, and two sections for children only.