ENG-1977 — Page 18

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落户

Outdoor Activities:

A fuller life for all

昏的元

動タ

HONG KONG's greatest asset has always been its people. It is largely through their hard work and a strong measure of business acumen that the British territory has

prospered.

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But it would be wrong to assume that life in Hong Kong revolves only around work. For the past decade has produced a significant social development: an enormous growth in outdoor recreation among its more than 4.5 million people.

This phenomenon has largely been brought about by two factors. First, most people live in densely-populated urban areas where the high-rise environment produces stresses that make relief and diversion of crucial importance. Secondly, a rising stand- ard of living and legislation that assures workers of a week's paid annual leave, in addition to statutory public holidays, has given people the chance to enjoy a life in which material benefits are not the only goal.

To give impetus to the outdoor leisure boom, the government - through the Country Parks Authority, the Urban Council and the Departments of Agriculture and Fisheries, Education and Social Welfare - together with numerous voluntary agencies, provide a wealth of recreational opportunities both within the urban area and in the countryside.

This widespread involvement enables not only the young and the fit, but also the old and the handicapped, to enjoy a fuller life by indulging in some form of outdoor activity.

The only problem now is to keep pace with demand. Much thought is being given to this under the aegis of the Council for Recreation and Sport, which was set up by the government in 1973 to foster and expand the use of recreational and sporting facilities, and to promote safety in outdoor pursuits.

Country Parks

To cater for the increasing number of people who spend their leisure time in the countryside, the year-old Country Parks Authority moved into top gear in 1977 by formally designating five country parks covering an area of 4,023 hectares. They are Kam Shan, Shing Mun and Lion Rock in the New Territories, and Tai Tam and Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island. The government plans to designate four parks a year so that, by 1981, there will be about 20 covering virtually all of the territory's 730 square kilometres of countryside. Each park will have its own set of management buildings and staff.