ENG-1978 — Page 265

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RECREATION AND THE ARTS

and able-bodied on the same courses. In addition, special programmes have been devised for mentally-handicapped and maladjusted children.

The Outward Bound School still functions as an important centre for outdoor recreational training and continues to offer special courses for senior executives, businessmen and families.

Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association

The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association is a private organisation that provides leisure opportunities for young people aged between 15 and 25 years. It is based upon the patterns established in other countries by member organisations of the Inter- national Youth Hostels Federation.

Membership increased at a satisfactory rate during 1978 and so did facilities avail- able. A hostel at Ngong Ping, near Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, was opened in May and the first custom-built hostel, Bradbury Hall at Chek Keng on the eastern arm of Long Harbour, became fully operational. These developments bring the number of available hostels to six: the other four being Wayfoong Hall at Plover Cove; Sze Lok Yuen on Tai Mo Shan; Pak Sha O Hostel; and Cambrai Lodge at Nim Wan.

Plans for the development of other sites are being pursued. Problems do exist however in relation to buildings. An attractive site for hostelling purposes is usually in a remote area and it is difficult to find contractors willing to undertake small jobs in out-of-the-way places. In an endeavour to overcome this problem, the association is partaking in an experiment for the production of prefabricated units in glass rein- forced concrete which, if successful, will greatly speed up the provision of additional hostels.

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.

To help remedy the situation, the Jubilee Sports Centre is being built at Sha Tin on land reclaimed by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (RHKJC) at a cost of $25 million. This expenditure is being matched by the government with a further $25 million going towards construction costs. Additional funds have come from the proceeds of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Fund, which the RHKJC is matching on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Thereafter, the centre is to be developed jointly by the govern- ment 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 sportswomen as well as local coaches. This, in time, should result in vastly-improved standards and boost Hong Kong's chances of making an international name for itself.