ENG-2005 — Page 450

392 Recreation, Sport and the Arts

The department also works closely with the District Councils, the national sports associations under the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, district sports associations and schools to promote the concept of 'Sport for All' and to encourage people of all ages and from all walks of life to participate in sports and recreational activities.

The sports promotion and development programmes in 2005 included the Young Athletes Training Scheme, the School Sports Programme, the Community Sports Club Project, the District Sports Teams Training Scheme and the Healthy Exercise for All Campaign. The department also administers a sports subvention scheme to provide financial assistance to national sports associations to organise sports programmes for the community, and designates sports venues for use by national sports associations as national squad training centres.

In 2002, the LCSD began to phase in a new mode of operation at recreational venues to provide better service to the public. Venue managers now provide one-stop service and members of the public may book facilities, register and pay fees for recreational programmes, and obtain professional advice and assistance while using facilities or participating sports programmes at 149 venues.

The LCSD supported the Government's greening policy during the year by carrying out extensive tree planting programmes in parks, playgrounds and by the roadsides. In addition, various educational and community greening activities were organised to promote public awareness of the importance of a green environment.

Responding to the call from the Government's Team Clean for widespread action to improve the environment, the LCSD strengthened its enforcement action against unhygienic behaviour, such as littering and spitting at leisure and cultural venues and facilities, particularly during public holidays and weekends, in all the 18 districts. Officers of the department issued more than 70

than 70 fixed-penalty tickets to littering/spitting offenders during 2005.

The Arts

It is the Government's policy to provide an environment that is conducive to freedom of expression and artistic creation and that encourages free participation in all aspects of cultural life. The policy comprises four major elements: respect for creative freedom and expression; the provision of opportunities for participation; the encouragement of diversified and balanced development and the provision of the necessary environment and conditions (venues, funding, education and administration).

Committees

Four committees were established in 2004 to advise the Secretary for Home Affairs on policies and strategies in the development of arts and culture. They are the Committee on Performing Arts, the Committee on Museums, the Committee on Libraries and the Advisory Committee on Cantonese Opera. The performing arts, museums and libraries committees base their plans for the development of cultural

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