ENG-1995 — Page 432

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

operation, providing the opportunity for a broader section of the community to try their hands at the sport at nominal cost.

The council has three water sports centres (Tai Mei Tuk, Chong Hing and Wong Shek) and three holiday camps (Lady MacLehose Holiday Village, Sai Kung and Tso Kung Tam Outdoor Recreation Centres). During the year, 49 948 people made use of the water sports centres and 326 803 used the holiday camps.

Major Events

To fulfil its 'Sport-for-all' motto, the Regional Council organises special sports activities for different sectors of the community. The International Challenge Day 1995 held on May 31 aimed to encourage citizens of participating cities all over the world to take up regular fitness activities. More than 41.5 per cent of the residents within the council area took part in some 80 events organised by the council or completed 15 minutes of physical exercise on the day.

The Corporate Games, which were organised for the working population, attracted some 10 000 participants from about 250 industrial and commercial organisations. The Masters Games, which were held specially for the age group between 35 and 59, attracted more than 1 500 participants.

District Festivals Subsidy Scheme

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

The nine New Territories districts in the council area were allocated some $10.4 million in support of 58 festival celebrations during the year. More than 800 000 residents participated.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is Hong Kong's most popular pastime during summer. During 1995, some 12.1 million people visited the beaches and another 7.1 million enjoyed the many public swimming pools managed by the two municipal councils. Of the 43 gazetted bathing beaches, 12 on Hong Kong Island are managed by the Urban Council and 31 in the New Territories by the Regional Council. Among the beaches, the new 'Golden Beach' at Tuen Mun is the first artificial sandy beach managed by the Regional Council. It has been open to the public since April and has become a popular resort

area.

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 successful installation of water play equipment at Chai Wan and Lei Cheng Uk swimming pools, the Urban Council intends to provide similar equipment in nine existing pools in a two-phase programme. The Regional Council also provides facilities such as water slides and splash pools which are very popular with youngsters at its Hin Tin, Sheung Shui, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Tin Shui Wai pools. To eliminate the potential hazard of chlorine leakage, an ozone water treatment system will replace the existing

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