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RECREATION AND THE ARTS

instrumental music training programme. These were held at the office's four music centres, various schools and community centres. At the end of the year, 1,624 trainees were receiving lessons every week.

Aural and theory training was also provided to prepare students for the Royal School of Music examinations and to supplement students' lessons in playing musical instruments. Special training continued to be provided for talented young musicians; 19 trainees received special instruction from the Music Office and 11 others received further training, locally and overseas, under the sponsorship of the Jockey Club Music Fund Scholarship Scheme.

The Music Office has continued to consolidate and expand the training of youth orchestras and choirs, and now runs two youth symphony orchestras, five youth Chinese orchestras, five youth symphonic bands and six choirs. They rehearsed once a week and gave a total of 30 public performances during the year.

Music for the Millions concerts given by the Music Office instructors' orchestras, youth orchestras, bands and ensembles were held at various schools, playgrounds and community halls to introduce music to new audiences and to stimulate interest in learning musical instruments. Up to the end of the year, 350 concerts were held for a combined audience of 216,000 people.

To help broaden the horizon and experience of young musicians in Hong Kong, master classes and seminars were conducted by visiting musicians. A total of 87 master classes and seminars were held for 12,200 students and music lovers.

The office continued also to organise international exchange programmes. In July, the Long Island Youth Orchestra visited Hong Kong and gave a concert in conjunction with the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra. A highlight of the year was the highly successful tour undertaken in August by the Hong Kong Jing Ying (which comprised a chamber orchestra, a Chinese instrumental ensemble and a team of young Chinese dancers.) During the tour, the group participated in the Israel Arts Festival and the First Common- wealth Film and Television Festival in Cyprus, and gave 27 concerts at various cities in the two countries.

Also in August, the Music Office and the Recreation and Sport Service organised the First Hong Kong Youth Music Camp at the Outdoor Recreation Centre in Sai Kung. A total of 210 young musicians took part in the eight-day camp. The Third Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band Festival was held in November before audiences in the Tsuen Wan Town Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

Public Records Office

The Public Records Office of Hong Kong houses records of the Hong Kong Government which are of permanent value for official reference and private research. It is located in Murray Road, Central District.

Since its inception in 1972, the holdings have grown rapidly and now occupy over 5,500 metres of shelving. Most of the records are official in origin, but transfers have also been accepted from non-government sources such as religious institutions, societies and individuals.

The library, which consists largely of official publications, includes an extensive collection of English-language newspapers dating from the middle of the 19th century, as well as valuable collections of maps, photographs, manuscripts and microfilm copies of documents relating to Hong Kong. Public access to the library is unrestricted, however, formal approval is required to gain access to the official archives.