ENG-1961 — Page 371

SPORT AND RECREATION

313

that more and more people are availing themselves of the splendid facilities in Hong Kong for yachting, rowing, cruising and water skiing.

PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND OTHER AMENITIES

The management of parks and other public amenities in the urban areas is one of the responsibilities of the Urban Council, working through the Urban Services Department. These include all the beaches on Hong Kong Island and one at Lai Chi Kok on the mainland, as well as a number of walks and look-outs on the hills above the harbour. Apart from developing these natural attrac- tions, the Urban Council devotes much attention to creating additional playgrounds and gardens and to improving city amenities in general.

The bathing beaches were very popular during most of the summer months. For the safety of the public, 77 full-time life- guards were on duty at 12 public beaches in the urban areas from April to October. Staff of the Department also cleaned the beaches and supervised facilities provided on a contractual basis, such as changing tents and refreshment stalls. At certain beaches, a limited number of new sites for huts were leased to private individuals for five years, and existing huts were let by ballot for the normal period of one year.

A surfaced parking area for some 300 cars was provided at Shek O beach, and a new car park was completed at Deep Water Bay beach.

The Department also looks after 22 beaches in the New Terri- tories. At seven of these contractors provided tents, changing-rooms and other facilities. The usual ballot took place for the right to use the 59 beach huts on a yearly basis. A total of 50 fully-trained life-guards were on duty on the New Territories beaches during the summer.

The shortage of land in the built-up areas means that the development of parks and playgrounds can only take place in keen competition with other forms of development. Before the war play- grounds were few; after the war these were, at best, dusty and uneven pieces of land or, at worst soon occupied by squatters. Despite these difficulties, old playgrounds have been improved and new ones laid out, and apart from the large parks and formal