ENG-1994 — Page 461

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

During the year, some $10.4 million was allocated to the nine New Territories districts in the council area, in support of 63 festive celebrations. Over 800 000 residents participated.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is Hong Kong's most popular pastime during the summer. During 1994, some 13.3 million people visited the beaches and another 5.7 million enjoyed the numerous public swimming pools managed by the two municipal councils.

There are at present 42 gazetted bathing beaches 12 on Hong Kong Island managed by the Urban Council and 30 in the New Territories managed by the Regional Council.

The two councils manage 28 public swimming pool complexes:-14 in the Urban Council area and 14 in the Regional Council area. The competition pools in these complexes are built to international standards. Following the success of the installation of water play equipment at Chai Wan and Lei Cheng Uk swimming pools, the Urban Council intends to provide similar water play equipment in 10 existing pools in a two-phase programme. The Regional Council also provides leisure pool facilities such as water slides and splash pools, which are very popular with youngsters, at its Hin Tin, Sheung Shui, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun pools.

Landscape improvements at Repulse Bay beach started during the year, at the eastern and western sand-retaining structures. More children's play areas and arbours with seating will be provided. Planning is also in hand for a new beach administration building, with additional changing and showering facilities. Extra facilities have also been planned for Shek O beach. New-style lifeguard lookout towers have replaced the old ones in most of the public beaches in Southern District.

The councils regularly organise learn-to-swim classes. During the year, over 1800 swimming classes and training programmes were held for more than 37 700 people.

The councils encourage the formation of lifeguard clubs at their swimming venues to help maintain a steady supply of voluntary lifeguards to augment the regular lifeguard services. At the end of the year, the number of lifeguard clubs operating in the Urban Council and Regional Council areas were 13 and eight, respectively.

To get the water safety message across to the public, the Urban Council launched another water safety campaign in 1994.

A two-year shark prevention nets experimental scheme was implemented by the Regional Council at three of its beaches - Clearwater Bay (Second Beach) and Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung, and Kadoorie Beach in Tuen Mun.

Summer Youth Programme

The territory-wide Summer Youth Programme is organised each year for children and young people aged between six and 25. Social and recreational programmes and community service activities help the participants to develop their skills, appreciate human relation- ships, understand the community in which they live and enhance their sense of respon- sibility to the community.

In 1994, the Summer Youth Programme was officially launched on July 2, bearing the central theme 'Share the Fun, Serve the Community'. A district fun day was held in August to enhance publicity for the programme. Between July and September, about 16 570 activities were organised, involving 1.12 million young people. The total expenditure of the

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