ENG-1972 — Page 240

RECREATION

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mobilises them in community service. Such a programme is vital at a time when in- creasing affluence and better education have resulted in growing numbers of young people having the time and the inclination to take part in leisure activities.

This year, some 900,000 young people took part in the activities, with 30,000 volunteers involved in planning and running the events and programmes. Although activities are held during the summer months to benefit schoolchildren, special efforts are also made to attract young workers and other young people who are not members of any organised group. In this respect, local committees working closely with City and New Territories District Offices and the Social Welfare Department, play a signi- ficant role in meeting the needs of young people. The programme promotes a better understanding of rural life in urban youth, and conversely of urban life in young people from country areas.

To provide the co-ordination needed by a programme of this scale-involving people from all walks of life and widely dispersed sources of money and manpower- the Central Co-ordinating Committee on Youth and Recreation was set up in 1969 with the active support of the government. The Committee comprises representatives from the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and major government departments, all concerned with youth recreation. This year the Association of Volunteers for Service was also represented on the committee which made available additional re- sources for recruitment and placement of volunteers.

Generous grants of almost $1 million from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and a roughly matching contribution by the government together with numerous donations from community groups, firms, families and private individuals have again made it possible for yet another successful summer youth programme.

Entertainment and the Arts

The cultural life of Hong Kong in which the performing arts now play an im- portant role, tends to centre on the City Hall which is administered under policies laid down by the Urban Council.

The facilities offered by the City Hall include a concert hall with 1,500 seats, that can be quickly converted for use for theatrical productions, an intimate 470-seat theatre which is also used for film shows, the City Museum and Art Gallery, the main branch of the Urban Council Public Library system, rooms for exhibitions, lectures and conferences, and two public restaurants with bars.

The City Hall was opened in 1962 and celebrated its tenth anniversary by holding the 'Hong Kong Arts Festival 1972' from July 13 to August 12. A total of 38 perform- ances of Chinese and western music, drama, opera and dance, all performed by local artists, were presented in this period and were attended by some 37,000 people, rep- resenting 99.7 per cent of the auditoria capacities.

Local performers and overseas artists are presented regularly in the two auditoria. Unfortunately, the demand for use of the City Hall facilities is far greater than can be satisfied, and once again, a considerable number of performances had to be given in other localities.

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