ENG-1982 — Page 288

RECREATION AND THE ARTS

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To provide more indoor facilities, particularly in built-up areas where space is limited, Urban Council new or reprovisioned market buildings will in future be multi-storey, with one or two floors constructed especially for recreational and cultural use. In 1982, one such multi-purpose complex was opened in Aberdeen and another 20 were being planned. In addition to standard facilities, most of the new complexes will have an area of about 2 500 square metres to house district cultural centres for the performing and visual arts, consisting of an auditorium, a lecture and recital hall, exhibition space and ancillary facilities. Five of these cultural centres are being planned for new complexes at Sai Wan Ho, Central and Western, Yau Ma Tei, Ngau Chi Wan and Kwun Tong, with the first scheduled for completion by mid-1985. Another 11 indoor games halls will supplement the existing five at Aberdeen, Kai Tak East, Cheung Sha Wan, Morse Park and Boundary Street. The Urban Council works closely with various sports organisations and government departments in implementing its annual sports and recreation programme. With a pro- vision of $5.1 million in 1982, the council organised and sponsored over 12 300 sports and recreational events in which about 1.1 million people participated.

The council also organised 988 free outdoor entertainment programmes throughout the urban areas. Events included variety shows, Cantonese and Peking opera, puppet and film shows, ballet, youth dances, carnivals, folk singing and folk dances. About 1.2 million people were entertained at these events which were presented in parks, playgrounds, gardens, and recreational and community halls.

An intensive 46-day 1982 Summer Fun Festival was launched during the summer holidays. More than 58 290 young people and children took part in various outdoor events such as launch picnics, swimming parties, family harbour cruises, carnivals, camping activities, youth dances, film shows and children's parties.

In celebration of the annual Dragon Boat Festival, the Urban Council and the Hong Kong Tourist Association organised the 1982 International Dragon Boat Races, attended by five overseas teams. For the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, the council organised lantern carnivals at Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island and at Morse Park in Kowloon which attracted more than 333 500 people. Other large-scale programmes, such as the Christmas Special, New Year Fiesta, Lunar New Year Programme, April Fiesta and May Fair, were organised to mark festive seasons and special occasions throughout the year. In the New Territories, the Cultural Services Department organised some 231 entertainment events which were attended by 183 890 people.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is Hong Kong's most popular summer recreation. There are 41 gazetted beaches in the territory comprising 12 on Hong Kong Island under the Urban Council's control and 29 in the New Territories managed by the New Territories Services Department. The beaches have life-guards, first-aid posts, changing rooms, showers and other facilities. The Urban Services Department also manages 10 swimming pool complexes in the urban areas, while the New Territories Services Department manages three in the New Territories.

Hong Kong's first heated teaching pool, built at the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool Complex, was opened in June. At a cost of $5.2 million, the pool is designed to facilitate physically handicapped people. Piling work on a modern swimming pool complex in Lai Chi Kok also started during the year.

During the swimming season, an estimated 22 million people visited the beaches and 4.8 million used the swimming pools. Twenty-three new swimming pool complexes are planned - one on Hong Kong Island, eight in Kowloon, and 14 in the New Territories.