ENG-1992 — Page 404

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

Financing is provided through tuition income, charitable donations and a government subvention which enables the participation of young people who are unable to afford the full course fee.

Projects have been carried out to upgrade buildings, grounds and facilities at the Tai Mong Tsai and Wong Wan Chau bases and plans are being developed to create an additional 36-bed self-sustaining facility in Ah Kung Wan.

Adventure Ship

Adventure Ship Limited is a registered charitable organisation operating a 27.5 metres long, three-masted Chinese Junk, Huan, the biggest sailing junk in the territory, providing sail and nautical training for underprivileged or handicapped young people in Hong Kong since 1977.

The purpose of the training is to improve the self-confidence of the participants. Every year over 5000 young people from primary schools, secondary schools, hostels, homes, children and youth centres, community centres, multi-disciplinary centres, churches and others have benefited from the programmes. Any non-profit making organisation with an aim of enhancing the development of youth is eligible to apply.

Adventure Ship Limited provides, day and overnight, up to five-day training. Sponsored trips are organised for those groups which otherwise could not afford to sail. Apart from individual sponsors, Adventure Ship Limited is largely subvented by the Community Chest and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (Charities) Limited.

To enhance communication and co-operation with other welfare agencies, Adventure Ship Limited has been trying to put more social work elements into its service provision. Recently, staff with social work qualifications were recruited and it is expected that with the accomplishment of a new clubhouse, the services and facilities of Adventure Ship Limited can be up-graded and better utilised.

Youth Hostels

Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association is a registered charity providing outdoor leisure opportunities for young people, particularly the 18 to 26 age group, although members may be of any age. The association has six operational hostels, mostly away from the urban areas and in scenic places. The association has over 32 000 members, who may make use of the 5 000 hostels throughout the world, thus being able to stay in economical accommodation of a good standard while travelling abroad.

The hostel at Mount Davis was completely refurbished in 1992, dividing the dormitories into smaller rooms and air-conditioning the buildings. The new hostel at Plover Cove which will open in 1993, is a modern three-storey building, fully air-conditioned and adjacent to many recreational facilities.

Urban Council Parks

The Urban Council has an extensive building programme for large modern parks.

The first of these - Kowloon Park - features many special attractions including a sports complex with an ultra-modern Olympic pool, indoor and outdoor leisure pools and an air-conditioned indoor games hall. There is also a history museum, an aviary, a popular bird lake, a sculpture walk, a creative playground and a garden piazza for staging a wide

of culture and entertainment activities. range

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