ENG-1982 — Page 289

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RECREATION AND THE ARTS

Summer Youth Programme More than 1000 guests and young people attended the opening ceremony of the 1982 Summer Youth Programme at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium which marked the beginning of several thousand activities organised during the summer months with school children. in mind.

As in the past 13 years, overall planning of this annual series of events for youth was undertaken by the Central Co-ordinating Committee for Youth Recreation, consisting of representatives from government and private organisations. Popular activities in the programme included the Third Hong Kong Youth Music Camp, over 90 forestry work camps, sports activities and training courses, and filming the television series entitled Swinging Summer.

At a cost of some $12 million, the programme was financed by a $5.5 million donation from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club - its main supporter since its inception in 1969 – government and Urban Council funds, private donations and participants fees. From the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club's contribution, $1.5 million went towards permanent recreational facilities, such as archery ranges, mini-soccer pitches and basketball courts.

Youth Hostels

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The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association is a charitable organisation providing leisure opportunities for young people. It maintains contact with similar organisations in other parts of the world through the International Youth Hostels Federation. The Hong Kong association was able to forge closer links with the international federation following the visit of its president to Hong Kong in 1982. Membership increased by 24 per cent to some 20 000 during the year and the hostels continued to be used by young people aged from 17 to 24 years.

The association reopened its hostel at Chek Keng in the New Territories during the year with the help of a donation from the Bradbury Trust, providing improved facilities and additional accommodation in a new dormitory block. Another hostel is being built at Mong Tung Wan on Lantau Island.

The steady improvement in the standard of living in Hong Kong in recent years is reflected in the number of members who take advantage of the low cost facilities now available to them in 66 countries when they enjoy their holidays overseas.

Outward Bound

The Outward Bound School has extended courses on the brigantine Ji Fung to include school holiday voyages for children. The standard Outward Bound courses aboard the ship for students, senior executives, young businessmen and children were well attended. The ship has now sailed 18 500 miles in local waters, to the Philippines and up the China coast, since being launched in 1980. The Ji Fung took part in the South China Sea Race with a mixed crew aged from 14 to 60 years and finished first over the line in her class.

At the school on Sai Kung peninsula, a wider range of programmes has been introduced including country park ranger training and field courses for school children, as well as junior management courses in decision making, leadership and team work. Courses for the disabled are still popular.

A special grant from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club has enabled the school to expand its programmes, administration space and lecture facilities. In addition, the school is hoping for further financial assistance in the near future to bring fees for courses within the

range of more people in Hong Kong.