Recreation, Sport and the Arts | 421
Jockey Club Huan went into service in April 2006. It can accommodate up to 60 people. The hull of this three-masted traditional-rig sailing junk is made of aluminum. The vessel is equipped with modern navigational devices in addition to a full range of amenities and various barriers-free training facilities tailored for trainees with disabilities.
More than 9 000 young people benefit from the programme each year. The junk plies within Hong Kong waters, and each training trip lasts between one and three days. 'Learning by experience' is the programme's main theme.
The training regime has been carefully designed to cope with different weather conditions and the special needs of young people with different aptitudes and backgrounds. Once on board, participants become members of the ship's supplementary crew and work alongside their peers. Instructors guide them and temper them to face challenges and to be self-reliant. The exercises also foster camaraderie and team spirit.
Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association
The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association (HKYHA) is a non-profit making. organisation providing quality and affordable hostel accommodation in Hong Kong. Its primary aim is to encourage young people to participate in outdoor activities and promote travel, cultural, and international exchange programmes.
Established in 1973, the HKYHA has been running, planning and marketing youth hostels for 39 years. The association is currently operating seven youth hostels and has over 30 000 life members and 25 000 individual and corporate members. It is also an affiliate of Hostelling International, an organisation with over four million members worldwide.
In January 2011, HKYHA organised a charity event, 'Ngong Ping Charity Walk' at the scenic North Lantau Island Country Park. It attracted over 1 500 participants and raised much needed funds for hostel improvement, environmental protection and conservation projects.
Work on renovating the Jockey Club Mt Davis Youth Hostel is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012. The new-look hostel will provide guests with a spectacular view of Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbour. The HKYHA is also working closely with the Government to transform Mei Ho House, a former six- storey resettlement block in Shek Kip Mei, into a first-of-its-kind city hostel and a cultural landmark in Sham Shui Po. The project is scheduled for completion in 2012. In addition to running the hostel, the HKYHA will set up a museum, naming 'Mei Ho House of Livelihood', and form a citizens' group called 'Mei Ho House Alumni Network', to conserve the district's culture and history.
Country and Marine Parks
Some 40 per cent of Hong Kong's total land area has been designated as country parks and special areas for nature conservation, outdoor recreation and nature education. The 24 country parks and 22 special areas provide extensive hiking
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