ENG-1968 — Page 315

RECREATION

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$90,000, topped the 1968 Far East circuit and drew a world class field of 84. It was won by a 22-year-old Australian professional, Randall Vines.

Almost every sport and team game is played in Hong Kong but the one which enjoys by far the greatest popularity is association football. Fans turn up 20,000 strong at the Government Stadium, and football in Hong Kong has all the partisan fervour traditionally associated with the game.

The 11th annual Festival of Sport was held from February 25 to March 2 and the extensive programme drew between 60,000 and 70,000 spectators. An estimated 5,000 young people took part in events ranging from athletics to folk dancing.

The Inter-Varsity Games between the three universities of Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, which take place every two years, were held in the Colony in August. Being the host, the Students' Union of the local university had to meet most of the costs, but the Government donated a sum of $10,000 to assist with the expenses. Although the major honours eluded the local undergraduates, several notable performances were put up and the games provided a welcome opportunity for some Commonwealth undergraduates to meet in friendly rivalry on the field of sports.

The Urban Council, working through the Urban Services Depart- ment, is responsible for providing recreation facilities in the urban areas. In the New Territories, the responsibility rests with the Director of Urban Services, working closely with the District Commissioner. The Recreation and Amenities Division of the Urban Services Department now manages a total of 1,274.7 acres of public open space. Facilities, many of them flood-lit to ensure maximum usage, include 309 parks and gardens; 186 children's playgrounds and nine children's libraries; 39 grass games-pitches for soccer, hockey and rugby; 59 hard-surface mini-soccer pitches; 232 courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton; 30 tennis courts; seven running tracks; two Olympic-standard swimming pools; 36 bathing beaches with a total length of 8.4 miles; one bowling green; two squash courts; seven model boat pools; three bandstands; five roller-skating rinks; a putting green, and a fine aviary. There are 335 changing and lavatory facilities, cafés, refresh- ment kiosks, pavilions, shelters, car parks, and barbecue pits.

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