ENG-1971 — Page 276

198

RECREATION

The most popular outdoor summer activity was again swimming, and a survey of the 38 officially administered beaches carried out in August 1970, revealed that they were used by some 130,000 people on a Sunday. The worst outbreak of Red Tide for many years affected a large number of beaches for a week or so following a typhoon in June. Fortunately the organisms were of low toxicity and little or no harm was done, although bathers were advised to stay out of the water. Short beach safety and cleansing campaigns were held during the summer: with what permanent result it is difficult to say. The year's typhoons played havoc with beach rafts and one beach was denuded of all its sand.

As already mentioned, two large new swimming pool complexes were opened to the public during the year (again built with funds donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club), bringing to five the number of public pools in the Colony, compared with two up to December 1970. Three of the pools are of the new type, consisting of one main and one secondary pool, a diving pool, three teaching pools, a children's pool and a paddling pool. Four of the complexes are in Kowloon, but work has started on two new and smaller pools on the Island and others, including two in the New Territories, are included in the Public Works Programme. During the year 1,909,091 people used the pools.

The Urban Council and the Urban Services Department played an important role in organising public entertainment and their efforts were well supported by the public. Some of the activities formed part of the summer recreation programme referred to be- low, but, outside that programme, many Cantonese operas, variety shows, film shows, band concerts, 'pop-ins' and 'swim-ins' were organised. New ground was also broken with the staging of Chinese puppet shows and Peking operas. In drawing up the programme, particular (but by no means exclusive) emphasis was placed upon the needs of young people and those living in resettlement estates. Attendance at these functions exceeded 517,000.

SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMME

The biggest project undertaken during the summer of 1971 was again the Summer Recreation Programme, which aimed to provide purposeful and stimulating activities for the young people of Hong Kong. It is estimated that 800,000 youngsters took part in the vast range of activities, while over 30,000 volunteers helped make it a success. Whenever possible, agencies, schools, district groups and departments provided more opportunities than in previous years