ENG-1971 — Page 281

RECREATION

203

school visits have been a regular feature at the libraries and all have proved successful.

THE BRITISH COUNCIL

Throughout the year the British Council continued its cultural and educational work in Hong Kong. A highlight of the cultural programme was the visit in May of the London Symphony Orchestra which gave three concerts under the direction of Andre Previn.

The Council's two libraries at Gloucester Building and Star House were even busier than last year and lent almost 100,000 books to their 8,400 members. These readers, mainly students, also made full use of the reading rooms which are provided with more than 200 British newspapers and magazines covering a wide range of subjects. On any one day of the year some 3,700 books, out of a total of 32,000, were on loan to members.

Another book presentation was made to The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Since the scheme was first started in 1962, the British Council has donated books worth $360,000 to numerous educational institutions.

Visits to various organisations in Britain were arranged for staff of the two universities and of the City Museum and City Hall. The Council also sponsored a tour of Latin American cities by the Professor of Geography and Geology at the University of Hong Kong, who lectured on problems of urbanisation. Fourteen scholar- ships were awarded to students undertaking advanced studies in Britain, nine of these by the British Council (seven for training in the teaching of English as a second language) and five by the Sino- British Fellowship Trust.

The Council made arrangements for specialists from Britain to visit Hong Kong for consultations with government departments and the universities and to give lectures to professional socie- ties. Subjects included computer education, football, dermatology, medical physics, bio-chemical engineering and science teaching in secondary schools. On this latter subject, a one-week symposium for teachers was arranged in conjunction with Chung Chi College and the Hong Kong Science Teachers Association. A specialist was also brought out to advise the Medical and Health Department on the setting up of a paraplegic service in Hong Kong.

The Council again provided the venue for the English section of the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, while educational and specialist films from locally held prints and those brought from London were lent or shown to schools and other institutions.