ENG-1974 — Page 112

EDUCATION

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The Hong Kong Youth Orchestra presented three concerts, and were joined by choirs from five secondary schools in a special performance for the Festival of Hong Kong. At this concert 200 primary school children gave the first local performance of Richard Rodney Bennett's 'The Midnight Thief'.

The Youth Orchestra also played for the Hong Kong Ballet Group's gala per- formances at the Lee Theatre where Dame Margot Fonteyn and Mr Heinz Bosl were among the special guest stars.

The annual practical examination of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music attracted 6,402 candidates, and 2,186 candidates entered for the theory examination. For the 14th successive year a Hong Kong candidate won the annual scholarship awarded jointly to India and Hong Kong. The scholarship, valued at $30,000, is tenable for three years at the Royal College of Music.

A total of 97 candidates entered for the Trinity College of Music examinations and 911 ballet students took part in the Royal Academy of Dancing Examinations.

The Hong Kong Children's Choir took part in the 11th International Society for Music Education, in Perth, Western Australia.

Art

The Cultural Crafts Centre continued to promote an active interest among schools in art and allied creative skills. Art work produced by Hong Kong school- children during the year won international acclaim-as it has done for many years, wherever it is sent and in local competitions and exhibitions the standard was equally high. The most notable achievement was the award of high honours in the Commonwealth Institute Exhibition of Young People's Art. Further proof of the standard attained in Hong Kong was the award of a large number of medals and certificates from Finland. Competitions for poster design, outdoor murals and other graphic work attracted entries of a high standard on various subjects, including road safety, anti-narcotics, anti-crime, industrial safety and rehabilitation of the handi- capped. The wider scope of art teaching was reflected in the much increased number of candidates taking part in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education, entries having doubled over the last three years.

Recreation

Outdoor education camps for primary schools involved 10,422 campers from 100 primary schools during 1974. In the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme for Schools, 3,540 students were actively working for their bronze, silver and gold awards. A total of 324 bronze awards, 52 silver and eight gold were presented to successful candidates. In conjunction with the Hong Kong and New Territories Schools Sports Associations, and the Hong Kong Amateur Gymnastics Association, various competitions in gymnastics, athletics, dance, swimming and sailing attracted widespread participation by primary and secondary schools.

With financial aid from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and the government, and the co-operation of various government departments and voluntary agencies, the