ENG-2003 — Page 500

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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Playground (Phase II, Stage 2), Aldrich Bay Promenade and Improvement Works to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village and the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre.

Works were in progress on 23 other projects:

Tai Po Complex, Indoor Recreation Centre/Library in Area 100 Ma On Shan, Tai Kok Tsui Complex (Phase 2), Local Open Space in Areas 18 and 21 Fanling, Kowloon Bay Recreation Ground, Local Open Space in Area 14 (Mouse Island) Tuen Mun, District Open Space in Areas 3 and 8 Tsing Yi, Ma On Shan Sports Ground — Phase II, District Open Space in Area 5 Tai Po, Football Pitch in Area 5 Tai Po; and

Local Open Space in Area 15 Tin Shui Wai, Water Sports Centre at Stanley Main Beach, Improvement to Lok Wah Playground Kwun Tong, Local Open Space in Ping Shan Yuen Long, District Open Space in Area 7 Tung Chung, Provision of a Multi- purpose Grass Pitch on Sai Tso Wan Former Landfill, District Open Space Area 18 Tuen Mun, Stanley Complex, Hammer Hill Road Park Diamond Hill, Renovation of the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village of YMCA Ma On Shan, Cherry Street Park Tai Kok Tsui, Additional Open Space adjacent to Tsuen Wan Town Hall and Indoor Recreation Centre in Area 17 Tin Shui Wai.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is one of Hong Kong's most popular summer pastimes. In 2003, people made 10.12 million visits to the beaches, and there were 9.15 million visits to the public swimming pools managed by the LCSD. There are 41 gazetted bathing beaches 12 on Hong Kong Island and 29 in the New Territories and outlying islands. The LCSD manages 36 public swimming pool complexes in the urban areas and the New Territories.

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As sharks are occasionally sighted in Hong Kong waters, shark prevention nets have been installed for the safety of swimmers at 30 of the more popular and more accessible beaches.

All the public bathing beaches under the management of the LCSD will normally be closed in winter. However, lifeguard services are still provided at Clear Water Bay 2nd Beach, Golden Beach and Silverstrand Beach in the New Territories from 8 am to pm from November to March and at Deep Water Bay Beach from 8 am to 5 pm from December to February. Shark prevention nets are also retained at these beaches during the period they are open.

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Parks Managed by LCSD

The LCSD manages more than 1 350 parks and gardens of various sizes, including 22 major parks.

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the oldest public gardens in Hong Kong, occupy a total area of 5.4 hectares that overlooks Central. The gardens were established between 1861 and 1871. Divided by Albany Road, the eastern garden houses an extensive bird collection while the western garden, opened in 1871, is home to mammal and reptile exhibits. The botanical section is mainly in the eastern garden. Despite the urban environment, the gardens provide a viable conservation centre for endangered species, and in 2003 accommodated 17 endangered species of mammals, birds and reptiles. The bird collection is one of the most comprehensive in Asia, with