ENG-1995 — Page 435

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

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to promote their health, recreation and education by providing simple hostel accommodation for them in their travels in Hong Kong and abroad.

Every year tens of thousands of people enjoy the fun of hostelling facilitated by budget accommodation provided by the association at seven local hostels in superbly scenic rural locations, namely Chek Keng, Tai Mei Tuk, Mong Tung Wan, Tai Mo Shan, Ngong Ping, Pak Sha O and Mount Davis. Through the International Youth Hostel Federation, members are also entitled to use more than 5 000 youth hostels in more than 60 countries.

Urban Council Parks

The Urban Council currently manages two large modern parks - Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Park. Kowloon Park's attractions include a sports complex with an ultra-modern Olympic pool, indoor and outdoor leisure pools and an air-conditioned indoor games hall. The park also contains a history museum, an aviary, a popular bird lake, a sculpture walk, a creative playground and a garden piazza for staging cultural and entertainment activities.

Hong Kong Park was a joint venture between the Urban Council and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. The latter donated $170 million towards the total construction cost of $398 million. Its facilities include a walk-in aviary, a con- servatory, an indoor games hall, a squash centre, a teaware museum and a visual arts centre. Educational activities are organised in the park for school children, with an emphasis on conserving the natural environmental and wildlife resources.

Kowloon Walled City Park

Construction of a park on the site of the former Kowloon Walled City was completed in September 1995. It is a Chinese-style landscaped garden with the restored Yamen building as a focal point. Relics of the Walled City, including two cannons, five stone inscriptions and tablets are displayed in the park, which is managed by the Urban Council. The park was opened to the public on December 22.

Zoological and Botanical Gardens

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens occupy a 5.35-hectare site overlooking Government House, and form the oldest and one of the most popular public gardens in the territory. They were established between 1861 and 1871, divided by Albany Road. The old garden, on the east side of the road, houses an extensive bird collection while the newer garden, opened in 1871, is the home for mammal and reptile exhibits. The botanical section is mainly located in the old garden.

The gardens house 19 endangered species of mammals, birds and reptiles. Despite its urban environment, it is an exceptionally successful breeding centre. Its bird collection is one of the most comprehensive in Asia, with about 900 birds of 280 species. More than 100 of these species have successfully reared young. Although less comprehensive, the mammal collection is varied, including such diverse creatures as the echidna, an egg-laying mammal, and the jaguar, the world's third-largest cat.

More than 750 species of trees, shrubs, creepers and foliage plants are featured. The medicinal plant collection, established in 1987, and a new greenhouse built in 1993 have generated much interest. They contain some 500 species of herbs, orchids, ferns, cacti, succulents and other indoor plants. During the year, a new public toilet block

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