ENG-1976 — Page 255

RECREATION

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officers work closely with sports associations, voluntary agencies, youth groups and relevant government departments. The service is operated by the Education Depart- ment. It caters for people of all ages and all abilities, but there is particular emphasis on young people.

In 1976 the service trained 1,000 new coaches, instructors, referees and leaders, bringing the total number now active to 4,000. During the year the qualified coaches and instructors passed on their skills to some 50,000 people who enrolled in elementary and intermediate sports courses. More than 50,000 people also took part in competi- tions and tournaments. A major event was the sports programme held to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's 50th birthday, with some 25,000 people taking part.

Weekend family sports centres were introduced in 1976 and there are now four which provide sporting and recreational facilities for whole families, with the aim of bridging the generation gap and fostering harmony in family life. Also catered for are the handicapped, the aged, and specific work groups within the community.

In May, the former Army camp at Sai Kung was handed over to the Recreation and Sport Service, and within two months it had been turned into an outdoor recrea- tion centre. During the rest of the year some 100 sports, recreational and educational activities were conducted at the centre.

Another new development was the certificate course in recreation management jointly organised by the service and the extra-mural department of the University of Hong Kong. Some 40 members of various organisations and government departments were trained, and a second course began in October.

Outward Bound

The Outward Bound School in the New Territories joined in the efforts of the Recreation and Sport Service in 1976 by organising special courses on behalf of the service. Activities covered included rock climbing, canoeing, sailing, orienteering, and mountain leadership and instructor training. More than 1,000 young people took the courses, which were held at the request of the government and subsidised by the Recreation and Sport Service.

The standards of the Outward Bound School are fast becoming the accepted yardstick in character training and development in Hong Kong. The school runs standard 25-day courses, special courses for senior executives and for younger execu- tives, courses for girls and women, adventure courses for younger children, and specially designed courses for various firms and government departments. Numbers passing through the school have increased fivefold since it opened six years ago. Expansion is now being planned to provide more accommodation for the standard courses and also an establishment devoted entirely to recreation training.

Summer Youth Programme

The most comprehensive range of recreational opportunities ever presented in a Summer Youth Programme was enjoyed by nearly two million young people in Hong

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