ENG-1998 — Page 454

362

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

demonstrations by local and Guangdong performing groups. More than 10 000 people took part in these activities.

District Festivals Subsidy Scheme

The District Festivals Subsidy Scheme continued to help district bodies organise public recreation, sports and cultural activities. Programmes included arts festivals, sports festivals, dragon boat races, mid-autumn festival celebrations and lunar new year carnivals. During the year, the nine districts under the council's jurisdiction were allocated $17 million in support of 92 district festival celebrations for the enjoyment of over 2 447 000 people.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is Hong Kong's most popular summer pastime. In 1998, some 13.2 million people visited the beaches and another 7.6 million swam at the 32 public swimming pools managed by the two municipal councils.

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

The two councils manage 16 public swimming pool complexes in each of the urban and regional areas. Competition pools in these complexes are built to international standards. Following the successful installation of water play equipment at the Kennedy Town and Pao Yue Kong swimming pools, 14 swimming pools managed by the Provisional Urban Council are now installed with such equipment for the enjoyment of the public.

The Provisional 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, Tin Shui Wai, Ma On Shan and Tsing Yi swimming pools.

Sharks are occasionally sighted in Hong Kong waters, and shark prevention nets have been installed for the safety of swimmers at 11 Provisional Urban Council beaches and 21 Provisional Regional Council beaches.

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. By the end of the year, 14 and 11 lifeguard clubs operated in the Provisional Urban Council and Provisional Regional Council areas respectively. To promote water safety, the Provisional Urban Council launched a water safety campaign in July.

Ocean Park

Ocean Park, on the southern side of Hong Kong island, covers 870 000 square metres. It is one of South-East Asia's largest aquariums and Hong Kong's premier park for recreation and entertainment. Ocean Park hosted three million guests in 1997/98. More than 48 million people, including 10 million tourists, have visited the park since it opened in 1977.

The park's attractions include a cable car system, various world-class features such as the Atoll Reef, Wave Cove, Shark Aquarium, Bird Paradise, the Butterfly House,