ENG-1985 — Page 317

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RECREATION AND THE ARTS

12 500 seats for the HKC) are popular venues for local and international sports events, community functions as well as entertainment and cultural programmes. As a special feature, the HKC is equipped with a four-sided television screen, hung centrally, which displays larger-than-life images for close-up, slow motion and replay.

Activities in the two arenas during the year included performances by top artists, family entertainment shows and sports events. In total, around 1 418 672 people attended shows and events at these two arenas.

Other facilities at the QES include three gymnasia, three committee rooms, a multi- purpose hall, three squash courts and two table tennis play areas. The 13-storey stadium is also the home for offices of the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong and 23 of its affiliated national sports associations in its top three floors. This close proximity of the national sports bodies not only ensures easy access to practice venues but also facilitates the co-ordination and promotion of territory-wide sports activities.

Jubilee Sports Centre

The Jubilee Sports Centre, a 16 hectare modern sports complex at Sha Tin, has become increasingly popular as a venue for international groups. Some have used it as a training venue en route to major tournaments, while others have stayed at the centre specifically to work together with Hong Kong squads and the centre's coaches. The centre has played host to many international workshops and courses and accommodated a number of teams during the year. Major events and courses are organised in conjunction with the sports' governing bodies. The combination of world standard facilities and the centre's team of expert coaches has helped achieve many outstanding results.

Innovative facilities at the centre include Hong Kong's first covered track for all-weather sprint and hurdle training, the first cycle velodrome and an ozone treated swimming pool. Additionally, outdoors there are three grass soccer pitches, an eight-lane Olympic track, a tennis range, a jogging trail, an artificial turf training area, a hockey pitch and an area for baseball and softball. Indoors there are squash courts, a gymnasium, a dance studio, a weight and strength training room, and halls for a variety of sports. The centre, which provides residential accommodation for about 100 people, is managed by an independent board; its annual operating expenses are subvented by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.

City Hall

The City Hall, opened in 1962 and with an area of 11 000 square metres, is Hong Kong's cultural beacon. It remains one of the world's most heavily used establishments for the performing and visual arts.

The City Hall complex includes the High Block and the Low Block, connected by a memorial garden. The Low Block houses a 1 488-seat Concert Hall, a 467-seat Theatre, an Exhibition Hall and both Chinese and Western restaurants. The High Block accommodates an Exhibition Gallery, a 116-seat Recital Hall, two committee rooms, a Marriage Registry, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the City Hall junior, adult and reference libraries together with a popular music listening library.

This civic centre of major cultural and entertainment presentations is the main venue for the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Festival of Asian Arts and the Hong Kong International Film Festival. It is also the prime venue of the Urban Council's performing companies and various cultural organisations.