ENG-1988 — Page 344

RECREATION AND THE ARTS

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Kong Museum of Art, an Exhibition Gallery, a 116-seat Recital Hall, two committee rooms, a public library and a marriage registry. The two blocks are connected by the Memorial Garden.

During the year, 460 000 people attended 959 performances in the Concert Hall, the Theatre and the Recital Hall. In addition, 101 exhibitions were held in the Exhibition Hall and the Exhibition Gallery.

Town Halls

The Regional Council manages six civic centres within its region.

The Tsuen Wan Town Hall, opened in 1980, was the first civic centre in the region. The three-storey cultural complex houses a 1 424-seat multi-purpose auditorium, an Exhibition Gallery, a Cultural Activities Hall, a Lecture Room and a Conference Room.

The Sha Tin and Tuen Mun town halls, which were opened in 1987, were modelled after the Tsuen Wan Town Hall but have more sophisticated facilities. Their spacious stages and side stages have won praise from producers of sophisticated dance and theatrical perform- ances. Each of these two new town halls has a dance studio and a music studio which are very popular for training. Activities held in these studios range from ballet, dance and martial arts classes to orchestra and choir rehearsals. Both town halls are conveniently located in the town centre, and are well-served by public transport.

The other three smaller civic centres managed by the Regional Council are the Tai Po Civic Centre, North District Town Hall in Sheung Shui and Lut Sau Hall in Yuen Long. Each has an auditorium of about 800 seats and a rehearsal room or dance studio.

During 1988, some 1 409 performances were staged at these civic centres for over 622 000 persons and 119 exhibitions were held at the exhibition galleries of the three major town halls.

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. 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 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 February 1988 and is due for completion in 1990. The final phase will comprise a garden and a car park.

Community Arts Centres

The Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre - the Urban Council's first fully-fledged community arts centre - is located on the second and third floors of the council's Ngau Chi Wan Complex, and serves as a focal point for the promotion of arts and culture in the neighbouring districts. The centre celebrated its first anniversary in April.

The facilities there are used for a wide range of activities, including dramas, film shows, dances, concerts, Cantonese opera, popular concerts, community functions, exhibitions, lectures, classes, and rehearsals.

The centre's Theatre was booked for 254 days, featuring 249 performances before audiences of 63 200 in all; the Exhibition Hall was used for 160 days and attracted 12 100 people.

The Lecture Room and five practice rooms were used for 7 162 sessions.