ENG-1997 — Page 423

CHAPTER 22

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

RECREATION, sport and cultural activities enhance the quality of life in Hong Kong. The government aims to create an environment in which diversity, freedom of expression, artistic creativity and sporting excellence can thrive.

The major statutory sporting and cultural bodies have begun to implement plans for the development of their respective fields into the next century.

To promote the development of the arts, the government set up the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in June 1995 as a statutory body to advise on matters concerning arts policy and to plan for the broad development of the arts. The council had a busy and exciting year in 1996-97 as it was the first year for the implementation of its Five-Year Strategic Plan. Over the year, it worked closely with the major arts bodies to promote arts development and supported numerous arts projects to help budding artists.

In January 1997, the government approved a grant of $300 million for the establishment of a new Arts and Sport Development Fund to help the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Hong Kong Sports Development Board implement the initiatives in their strategic plans up to the year 2001. From April 1, 1997, the government's annual allocation to each of these bodies increased by $20 million, again to help ensure the success of their strategic visions.

The Hong Kong Athletes Fund made its first allocations to help local athletes pursue education and training programmes in the 1997-98 academic year. The fund, set up in August 1996 with a government allocation of $8 million and over $5 million in contributions from the community, is managed by the Hong Kong Sports Development Board. The government developed a financial strategy so the Hong Kong Sports Institute could continue training local athletes to international standards, in accordance with the revised elite training programme for local athletes devised by the institute on the recommendation of an international sports consultancy.

Hong Kong residents have access to a wide range of leisure activities, many of which are provided by the Urban and Regional Councils (retitled the Provisional Urban and Regional Councils on July 1). The two councils are autonomous bodies empowered to formulate policies for the provision and management of cultural and recreational facilities in their respective areas. They build and operate games halls, sports grounds, swimming pools, parks, museums, libraries and other recreational venues. They also organise and support a host of cultural, sporting and recreational programmes and events.

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