ENG-1996 — Page 467

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

District Festivals Subsidy Scheme

Under its District Festivals Subsidy Scheme, the council provides financial support to fund the launching of district arts and entertainment, festive, sports and recreation events in celebration of traditional festivals. Districts were allocated some $10.6 million in 1996-97 in support of 65 festive celebrations with more than 800 000 participants.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is Hong Kong's most popular summer pastime. In 1996, some 17.3 million people visited the beaches and another 7.7 million swam at the 31 public swimming pools managed by the two municipal councils.

There are 41 gazetted bathing beaches - 12 on Hong Kong Island managed by the Urban Council and 29 in the New Territories and outlying islands managed by the Regional Council.

The two councils managed 16 public swimming pool complexes in the UC area and 15 in the RC 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 UC installed similar water equipment in Pao Yue Kong, Kowloon Tsai and Lai Chi Kok Park swimming pools. The second phase of the programme, including another six existing pools, will commence next year.

The RC 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 swimming pools. To eliminate the potential hazard of chlorine leakage, the council has started to replace the existing chlorine gas dosing system with an ozone water treatment system at 10 swimming pools. Work on eight pools was completed in May 1996.

Over the past few years, sharks have been sighted in Hong Kong waters in early summer. For the safety of swimmers, the municipal councils have installed shark prevention nets at 11 gazetted beaches.

The councils regularly organise learn-to-swim classes, and more than 39 651 people attended 2 147 swimming classes and training programmes during the year.

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, 13 and eight lifeguard clubs operated in the UC and RC areas, respectively. To get the water safety message across to the public, the Urban Council launched another water safety campaign in 1996.

Ocean Park

Ocean Park, on the southern side of Hong Kong island, covers 87 hectares. It is South-East Asia's largest oceanarium and Hong Kong's premier park for recreation and entertainment. Ocean Park hosted 3.3 million guests in 1994/95, and has received more than 40 million visitors, including 8 million tourists, since it opened in 1977.

The park's diverse and quality attractions include the cable car, various world-class exhibits such as the Atoll Reef, Wave Cove, Shark Aquarium, Bird Paradise, the Butterfly House, and the 3 500-seat Ocean Theatre for marine mammal shows, together with an exciting array of thrill rides. Middle Kingdom features a walk

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