ENG-1977 — Page 26

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: A FULLER life for all

5

In addition, recreation workers and administrators can now take a part-time, eight- month course in recreation management jointly organised by the Extra-Mural Department of the University of Hong Kong and the Recreation and Sport Service. Of all its projects, perhaps the most significant has been the founding of an outdoor recreation centre at the former Sai Kung Army Camp, which was handed over to the service in May, 1976. Overnight accommodation at present is restricted to refurbished Nissen huts, but these will soon be replaced by more comfortable permanent buildings. Despite this, the attractions of a weekend in the countryside, coupled with comfortable bedding, good food and a multitude of activities ranging from swimming to canoeing, roller-skating, archery and hiking - all for a very moderate charge and supervised by skilled instructors - had proved irresistible to more than 22,000 people from all walks of life in the 10 months up to March, 1977.

For the year ending March, 1978, triple that number are expected to have stayed at the Sai Kung centre. All will have followed a carefully-structured programme cater- ing for specific groups, such as youths, factory and office workers, families and the handicapped.

So enthusiastic has been public response to the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre that what began as an experiment has become the basis of a sizeable programme. Over the next five years, the government plans to provide similar permanent facilities in some of Hong Kong's most scenic areas.

The first will be the Recreation and Sport Service's modern complex at the new Tso Kung Tam Park, in Tsuen Wan. As the government's first custom-built outdoor recreation centre, the Tso Kung Tam complex, due to open in 1979, will be run along similar lines to the Sai Kung centre and those taking advantage of the facilities will be able to take part in the Recreation and Sport Service programme. Features will include a dining hall, a multi-purpose games hall, tennis courts and dormitories for about 320 people. More than that number would defeat the purpose of the project - to provide, among other things, a tranquil respite from the crowded urban environment. The remainder of Tso Kung Tam Park will be managed by the Urban Services Department, which will be providing such facilities as amphi-theatres, water gardens, playgrounds and a picnic area for local residents.

A further 41 holiday camps providing more than 5,000 places are operated by social welfare agencies and several more are being planned by such organisations as the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, the Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and the Po Leung Kuk.

Summer Youth Programme

The new steps now being taken by the government to establish more recreational facilities supplement an already extensive programme of youth activities. Special attention has been given to developing constructive outlets for youthful energy because half of Hong Kong's population is under the age of 24.

The 1977 Summer Youth Programme, the ninth planned by the Central Co- ordinating Committee for Youth Recreation and implemented through government and voluntary agencies, attracted more than two million participants. Although most were school-children and older students, the programme also produced a growing response from young working people.