ENG-1980 — Page 283

208

RECREATION AND THE ARTS

Libraries The Urban Council and the Cultural Services Department operate 20 public libraries in various districts in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. In addition, there are four mobile libraries, four gramophone record listening services and one video-cassette library.

In 1980, the Urban Council opened a new library in North Point; the Cultural Services Department opened a small library in Tai O; a mobile library was equipped for work in the New Territories; a listening library was added to the Kwai Chung Public Library; and the government agreed in principle to a major expansion programme for public libraries in the New Territories.

At the same time, a three-year post-graduate course in librarianship was set up by the extra-mural department of the University of Hong Kong, with the assistance of the Urban Council. This course will produce 24 qualified librarians each year and represents a significant advance in two-language librarianship in Southeast Asia.

During the year, 125,043 new books were acquired by the two library systems, bringing the total stock to 1.19 million volumes. The libraries also subscribed to 2,901 newspapers and periodicals. Other material included 3,659 reels of microfilm, 336 video cassettes, 1,414 sets of slides, and 11,706 gramophone records and cassette tapes. A total of 4,258 new publications were registered under the Books Registration Ordinance.

Some 86,747 people registered as new members in 1980, bringing the total number of library card-holders to 954,059. More than 5.19 million books were issued for home reading and a further 5.41 million were read in the libraries.

With the installation of hi-fi equipment and pianos in the extension activities halls of some of the libraries, record concerts and other musical performances were regularly arranged. Other extension activities included book exhibitions, story hours, film shows, interest-group sessions and competitions. During the year, 954,603 people participated in the various programmes organised in the public libraries.

The British Council

The council's popular English language courses showed continued growth during the year, with almost 25,000 students enrolling for general English instruction. Specialist language courses were arranged by the Professional and Company English Unit for officers of government departments, and the staff of many large companies, hotels and banks. In- service refresher courses were also held, in conjunction with the Education Department, for English-language teachers in primary and secondary schools.

The council organised visits to England for 59 people on scholarships, bursaries and visitorships, and brought 18 specialists from Britain to give advice to local institutions in such varied fields as dance, arts administration and fund-raising.

The Chung Ying Theatre, set up by the council in 1979, was involved in a wide and increasing variety of theatrical activities. Of particular acclaim, were performances of The Three Cent Opera and School for Clowns in the City Hall Theatre, and the staging of The Merchant of Venice and Romeo and Juliet in secondary schools. At the end of the year, the company mounted the first musical adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm in the new Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

Further highlights of the year's work were the exhibitions Colour in Modern British Painting, which was mounted in the City Hall, and Contemporary British Pottery, in the Hong Kong Arts Centre.