ENG-1977 — Page 29

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OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: A FULLER LIFE FOR ALL

blind, the deaf and dumb, and tuberculosis and leprosy patients. At the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre, special swimming facilities are available for the handi- capped and these will be incorporated in future government outdoor recreation centres. Likewise, the Urban Council's recently-opened swimming pool complexes at Aberdeen and Tai Wan Shan have special ramps for wheelchairs and changing rooms reserved for the handicapped. The council plans to provide similar features in other swimming pools.

A wide variety of activities are provided by the Sports Association for the Physically Handicapped, which also sponsors teams to compete internationally. That Hong Kong can produce handicapped young athletes of a high calibre was proved by a woman swimmer who won a bronze medal in the backstroke event at the 1977 International Stoke-Mandeville Games in Britain. In 1976, Hong Kong competitors at the Olympiad for the Physically Disabled, held in Toronto, brought home silver and bronze medals for table tennis. That year also saw the first, highly-successful Hong Kong Special Olympics for the Mentally Handicapped, held at the Aberdeen Sports Ground for participants from 25 schools, workshops and centres.

By far the most important project for the disabled, however, will be the new Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied (PHAB) Camp and Recreation Centre, scheduled to open in October, 1978, at a site near the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir. Spon- sored jointly by the government, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and PHAB, the camp will be the second of its type in the world and will become the permanent head- quarters for the Hong Kong branch of PHAB International. Facilities will include dormitories, a swimming pool, barbecue areas, a riding paddock, stabling for 24 horses and a host of recreational activities ranging from archery to badminton and basketball.

International Prospects

Hong Kong's governing sports bodies have for many years been striving to reach higher standards in particular sports, and have continued to take part regularly in Olympic, Commonwealth and Asian Games. In recent years, the government has provided assistance through a sports promotion vote, which is administered on the advice of the Council for Recreation and Sport and which helps sporting groups to host or to take part in international competitions. However, their efforts have generally foundered through a lack of facilities and expertise for high-level training and coaching. As a result, the latent ability undoubtedly available has not been developed to the full and Hong Kong's participation in some international events has been more of an exercise in goodwill than one offering any serious competition.

To help remedy the situation, the Jubilee Sports Centre will be built at Sha Tin on land reclaimed by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (RHKJC) at a cost of $25 million. Initially this expenditure will be matched by the government with a further $25 million going towards construction costs. Additional funds will come from the proceeds of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Fund, which the RHKJC will match on dollar- for-dollar basis. Thereafter, the centre will be developed jointly by the government and the RHKJC, with the club meeting recurrent expenditure.

The main purpose of the centre will be to provide training and coaching facilities. A team of coaches of international standing will train both promising sportsmen and