ENG-1978 — Page 113

EDUCATION

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of the Education Department. One of these, a three-day course on the teaching of Chinese music in secondary schools, was the first step towards the promotion of Chinese music education in Hong Kong. The secondary school teachers' choir and orchestra continued to give music teachers experience in rehearsing and performing substantial works from the choral repertoire.

About 50,000 students took part in the 30th Annual Schools Music Festival in 272 classes at 10 different centres. Six prize-winners' concerts were given before capacity audiences.

In August, the Hong Kong Children's Choir made a Canadian tour, performing at the 13th Conference of the International Society for Music Education in London, Ontario.

The annual practical examination of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music attracted 10,083 entries and 2,353 candidates sat the theory examinations. Some 101 entries were received for the Trinity College of Music examinations and 1,212 ballet students took part in the Royal Academy of Dancing examination.

Physical Education

The Physical Education Section of the Education Department conducts regular school visits, during which advice and supervision on physical education is given to prin- cipals, heads and physical education teachers. Refresher courses, residential courses, seminars, conferences and camps relating to the teaching of physical education are also organised throughout the year for teachers at various levels. The allocation to schools of Urban Council recreation grounds, games halls, athletic fields and swim- ming pools forms part of the duties of the section.

Organised activities for schoolchildren, such as outdoor educational camps, canoe- ing, sailing, a learn-to-swim scheme and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, are well supported by schools. Similar activities for handicapped children, the mentally retarded and slow learning children are also organised and supervised by the Section.

In conjunction with the Hong Kong Schools Sports Association and the New Ter- ritories Schools Sports Association, the Physical Education Section continues to run competitions such as gymnastics, trampolining, canoeing and dance for schools. The section also helps to promote school sports at inter-port and international levels.

During the summer, the Physical Education Section once again received a sub- vention from the government and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club to operate a summer recreation programme for about 400,000 children from both primary and secondary schools.

The Hong Kong Schools' Chinese Dance Team, organised by the Physical Educa- tion Section, took part in the Commonwealth Carnival held in Edmonton, Canada, as part of the 11th Commonwealth Games. The team, comprising 15 girls, five boys, two teachers and six officials, was extremely well received.

The dance team was also invited by the Hong Kong Tourist Association and the Urban Council to take part in the Victoria Park Lantern Carnival in September and the Third Festival of Asian Arts in October.