ENG-1987 — Page 317

RECREATION AND THE ARTS

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violin-piano-cello recital by Issac Stern, Emanuel Ax and Yo-yo Ma; concerts by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Lorin Maazel and a vocal recital by Roberta Peters.

During the year, 483 850 people attended 1045 performances at the Concert Hall, Theatre and Recital Hall. In addition, 119 exhibitions were held in the Exhibition Hall and Exhibition Gallery.

Town Halls

Opened in 1980, the Tsuen Wan Town Hall is the first civic centre in the Regional Council area, and has been a focus of cultural activity.

Its facilities include a 1 424-seat auditorium, a Cultural Activities Hall for small-scale per- formances, a 450-square metre Exhibition Gallery, a lecture room and a conference room. During 1987, some 155 580 persons enjoyed 350 performances at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall, and a total of 16 exhibitions were presented at the Exhibition Gallery.

The Sha Tin Town Hall has as its main feature a 1 400-seat multi-purpose auditorium. Its 323-square metre stage, together with two side stages and an orchestra pit, is designed for both musical and theatrical performances.

Other facilities at the Sha Tin Town Hall include a Cultural Activities Hall, a 378-square metre Exhibition Gallery, a Dance Studio and a Music Studio each of about 250 square metres, two lecture rooms, a conference room, three practice rooms and a Chinese restaurant.

Since its opening in January this year, the Sha Tin Town Hall has rapidly gained in popularity. Some 372 190 people enjoyed 646 performances at the town hall, and 32 exhibitions were presented in the gallery.

The Tuen Mun Town Hall was opened in May this year by Princess Margaret.

Its facilities are similar to those of the Sha Tin Town Hall. Located at the Tuen Mun Town Centre, the Tuen Mun Town Hall is easily accessible by public transport.

Some 30 960 persons enjoyed 94 performances at the Tuen Mun Town Hall, and a total of 49 exhibitions were presented at the Exhibition Gallery.

Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Funded by the government and the Urban Council, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is being constructed in phases on a choice waterfront site at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula. In the first phase, the Hong Kong Space Museum was completed in 1980. Work on the second phase - which includes a 2 200-seat Concert Hall, a 1 800-seat Grand Theatre, a Studio Theatre for 300 to 500, an Arts Library, administrative offices and two restaurants – began in November 1984 and will be completed in 1989. Work on the third phase, the new Museum of Art, began in May this year, and is due for completion in 1990. The final phase, a garden, will be completed in 1992.

Community Arts Centres

The Aberdeen Civic Centre, located on the fifth floor of the Urban Council Aberdeen Complex, provides facilities for a variety of small-scale cultural performances and such community activities as exhibitions, classes, lectures, seminars, meetings and rehearsals.

During the year, the Urban Council presented 38 cultural performances here, some of them with local cultural groups.

The completion of the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre in February marked another step in the council's continuous efforts to enrich the quality of life for the people of Hong Kong.