ENG-1994 — Page 452

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

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theme to reflect the council's commitment to providing better municipal services, and improving the quality of life for New Territories residents.

Regco'94 presented over 22 region-wide programmes, 105 cultural and entertainment events and 152 district activities, attracting over three million participants. To mark its opening, a carnival, featuring local and overseas performers and television artists, was held in November. The most eye-catching performance was a dance of two 90-metre-long flying dragons and a flying phoenix by artists from Xian, China.

The festival offered both local and international events. The latter included the Inter- national Folklore Festival, Special Olympics for the Mentally-Handicapped, International Wushu Spectacular, International Junior Baseball Championship, Asian Renal Transplant Patients Sports Competition, International Kite-flying Festival and International Sand Sculpture Competition.

Among the highlights were the Around the World Carnival, which introduced the different cultures, customs, traditional games, costumes, food and special attractions of various countries around the world. The Lantern Festival featured a display of outstanding Chinese craftsmanship with 30 sets of giant lanterns made of materials as varied as ceramics, bottles, silk and paper to illustrate Chinese folk tales and legends.

Local events included the Toy Festival, organised especially for children and families to highlight ingenious designs, re-introduce toys of the past and educate parents about the choice of toys for different purposes. The Inter-School Quiz Competition tested the "knowledge of students from 81 participating schools on the council's work. The Inter- District Sports Competition and Superstars Roving Demonstrations promoted public interest in sports while the cleanliness competitions and school projects on illegal shop extensions and illegal hawkers focussed attention on environmental improvement.

To tie in with Regco'94, an exhibition on the theme of the daily life of a Qing Dynasty emperor was mounted at Sha Tin Town Hall with the assistance of the First Historical Archives of China and the Palace Museum in Beijing. The exhibition attracted 14 000 people.

Major Events

To fulfil the 'sports for all' motto, the Regional Council organised special sports activities for different sectors of the community. The Corporate Games, which were organised for the working population, attracted 8 810 participants from over 200 industrial and commercial organisations. The Masters Games were held especially for the age group between 40 and 60. Aiming to encourage citizens to take up regular fitness activities, the Regional Council, in conjunction with the Urban Council, took an active part in promoting International Challenge Day 1994, held on May 25. Over 80 per cent of the population took part in some 30 events, or completed 15 minutes of physical exercise on the day. The overwhelming response helped Hong Kong beat Budapest, its paired rival in the international competition.

District Festivals Subsidy Scheme

Under the District Festivals Subsidy Scheme, the Regional Council assists local bodies to organise recreational, sports and cultural activities that are most suited to their districts. These include arts and sports festivals, dragon boat races, Mid-Autumn Festival celebra- tions, and Lunar New Year carnivals.