ENG-1968 — Page 316

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RECREATION

Sixty-nine television receivers, installed in parks and playgrounds, proved popular with the public. Funds for 50 of these sets were generously given by a local resident who wished to remain anony- mous, and 11 sets were donated by two commercial concerns.

The most imaginative advance of the year was the planning and initial construction of a number of district swimming pool complexes. The foundations of three such schemes were laid in Lei Cheng Uk, Morse Park, and Kwun Tong, all in New Kowloon. Each complex comprises eight separate pools, will accommodate 5,000 persons at one time, and will provide separate areas for competitive swim- ming, teaching, diving, and children's paddling pools. Two of these projects, financed by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, will form part of spacious parks to provide those living in these densely populated districts with attractive green areas in which to relax. The object is to provide one of these swimming complexes for every quarter million of the Colony's populace, and further plans were laid for two more similar complexes to be built, one in Tsuen Wan and one in the Western District of Hong Kong Island.

But each of these schemes occupies four acres of land, and some of the most densely built-up urban areas which lack the full space needed would be deprived of these excellent facilities if no modifica- tions were made in design. It has therefore been decided to experi- ment with less ambitious facilities for swimming, to meet the needs of districts such as Wan Chai on the Island. The first of these is to be built at Morrison Hill, again with funds donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. At Yuen Long, a children's playground was opened and an attractive sports ground there is almost ready for use.

The Urban Council and the Urban Services Department, con- tinuing their amenity planting programme, planted tens of thousands of trees, shrubs, and seasonal flowers during the year. At the end of February, the council organized its first Flower Show in the Memorial Garden of the City Hall and demonstrated the widespread local interest in horticulture and flower arrangement by attracting 200,000 people.

Swimming has emerged as the most popular of pastimes through- out the long, hot summer months and these facilities are therefore assured of the fullest possible use. More than a million people