ENG-1965 — Page 277

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RECREATION

estimated that they were visited by over two million people during the swimming season. Another 1,101,111 people used the two swim- ming pools, of whom 383,974 were children. In addition to regular life saving services provided by 164 life guards and 108 supporting staff of the Urban Services Department, honorary teams were provided at beaches and pools by the St John's Ambulance Brigade and the Hong Kong Life Guard Club.

To give the heavily built-up urban areas a touch of colour and brightness, and to provide more greenery and shade, the Urban Council carried on with its expanded amenity planting and floral display programmes. During the year, over 150,000 trees, flowers and shrubs were planted. A total of 40,000 square feet of floral displays, including hanging flower boxes, raised flower beds and concrete containers were arranged for the autumn and winter.

ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ARTS

For many years the principal single entertainment for the people of Hong Kong has been the cinema, and until comparatively recently the performing and visual fine arts played an insignificant part. Today, while the cinema remains the most popular enter- tainment with ever-increasing box office receipts, live entertainment and visual art are an important and integral part of the Colony's cultural life. Concerts, plays, operas and art exhibitions are now a regular feature and almost always attract good attendances.

The change began four years ago, when a new City Hall was opened with facilities which include a 1,500-seat concert hall con- vertible for theatrical performances, an intimate 470-seat theatre, an art gallery and several exhibition halls. Its two auditoria are available throughout the year to many local amateur groups and visiting artists, and as a result nearly every branch of music, drama and Chinese opera has prospered. There are regular public per- formances by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and many local choral groups and soloists, and during the year they gave a total of 119 concerts in the City Hall. In drama, three very active English amateur groups and many more Chinese dramatic groups, including both amateurs and professionals, together presented 39 productions with 120 performances.