ENG-1985 — Page 325

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RECREATION AND THE ARTS

Yuen Long District Board, the Yuen Long District Arts Committee and the Cultural Services Department, ran for 18 days from February 28 to March 17. District festivals, featuring a variety of programmes ranging from arts to recreation and sports, were also organised in Tuen Mun, North District and Tai Po by the district boards concerned and government departments. The Second New Territories Arts Parade, organised in associa- tion with the arts associations of six districts, was also held in 1985.

During the year, a total of 369 entertainment programmes were organised by the Regional Services Department at some 84 different venues in the nine districts, attracting 214 000 people. In celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, lantern carnivals were organised in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun. They were attended by more than 67 600 people.

Hong Kong International Film Festival

The Hong Kong International Film Festival, organised by the Urban Council, has gained increasing recognition and importance internationally in terms of its programmes and organisation. This is also reflected by the growing number of overseas film directors, producers and journalists attending the festival each year.

The ninth festival was held from March 29 to April 13 and 133 feature films from 32 territories, including Hong Kong, drew audiences totalling 94 224 people to 270 screenings. In addition, 27 000 people attended the posters and stills exhibition, seminars and discussion sessions held during the festival.

Two special retrospective programmes were featured, namely 'Discovering Asian Masters: Fei Mu (China), Gerardo do Leon (Philippines), Ritwik Ghatak (India) and Yamanaka Sadao (Japan)' and 'Auteurs in 50's Hollywood - Nicholas Ray and Douglas Sirk'. A programme on 'The Traditions of Hong Kong Comedy' was also presented in the festival's continuous effort to trace and study the history of the local film industry. The festival opened with Wim Wender's Paris, Texas and closed with Francesco Rosi's Carmen.

Hong Kong International Youth Arts Festival

The Hong Kong International Youth Arts Festival was presented by the Urban Council in support of International Youth Year. The festival aimed at providing cultural programmes and entertainment to young people and promoting international friendship and under- standing among those participating.

Seven groups from China, Britain, Japan, West Germany and the United States were invited to take part. Together with young artists of Hong Kong, they gave 20 performances at the City Hall and the Hong Kong Coliseum. Six free performances were also given at shopping arcades.

The festival offered a balanced programme of music, dance and theatre. It attracted a total audience of 24 033. Programmes presented for the first time in Hong Kong included a grand concert by 3 000 melodion players and a Hong Kong young choreographers' competition.

Libraries

Since April, library services to the community have been provided under the aegis of the Urban Council in the urban area and the Regional Services Department in the non-urban areas.

With the completion of four new static libraries in the non-urban areas and two in the urban area, all of the 19 districts in Hong Kong are now served by at least one library, with a total of 43 district libraries and four mobile libraries throughout the territory. In addition,