ENG-2001 — Page 472

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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sports venues for use by National Sports Associations as National Squad Training Centres. It provided administrative support to arrange for Hong Kong's athletes to take part in the 9th National Games of the People's Republic of China, held in Guangzhou. With a view to formulating a strategic blueprint for the development of sport in Hong Kong, the Home Affairs Bureau is conducting a comprehensive review of sports policy. The review report will be released for public consultation upon completion of the exercise.

In support of the Government's policy to make Hong Kong green, the LCSD in 2001 carried out extensive tree planting programmes in parks and playgrounds, as well as on roadsides. In addition, various educational and community activities were organised to promote public awareness of the importance of greening. In cultural services, good progress continued to be made in reviewing the existing policy on heritage preservation. The department will provide additional funds for preservation of Hong Kong's cultural heritage and thereby also support the development of tourism.

The LCSD has engaged consultancy firms to review, respectively, the future development of Hong Kong's public libraries and the provision of regional/district cultural and performance facilities, with a view to formulating a strategy for future development of these services. In addition, arrangements are being made to commission a consultancy to study the mode of governance of museums.

The Arts

Culture and Heritage Commission

The Culture and Heritage Commission was established by the Government in 2000, and members include experts from the arts community as well as the chairmen of major arts and heritage preservation bodies the Antiquities Advisory Board, the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the Council of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The Secretary for Home Affairs and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services also sit on the commission as official members.

The commission is an advisory body responsible for advising the Government on policies as well as funding priorities in developing culture and the arts. A consultation paper was published in March to consult the public on strategies in promoting cultural development. The consultation period closed at the end of June.

Hong Kong Arts Development Council

The Hong Kong Arts Development Council was established by ordinance in 1995 as an independent statutory body for promoting and supporting the broad development of the arts including the literary, performing, visual and film arts - and to develop and enhance public appreciation of and participation in them.

With the advent of the new millennium, the council repositioned and evolved itself from a 'funding agency' to a 'developmental agency' to meet the artistic needs of the community. With development and exploration as its new directives, the council embarked on a Three-Year Plan aiming to create a social environment conducive to the growth and development of the arts.