Recreation, Sport and the Arts
367 Chapter 19 Recreation, Sport and the Arts Hong Kong is well known for its hard- working people, but it is not an all-work- no-play city. People spend time in a wide variety of recreational, sport and cultural activities, ranging from ‘tai chi’ to yoga, football to rugby, and international arts festivals to home-grown performances. Hong Kong offers many opportunities for people to unwind. Recreation, sport and the arts provide an opportunity for people in Hong Kong to improve their quality of life. The Government helps to nurture an environment in which creative freedom, a pluralist approach to the development of the arts, sporting excellence and recreation can thrive. Government policies on matters concerning sport, recreation, culture and heritage are coordinated by the Home Affairs Bureau. Organisations that help to draw up these policies include the Hong Kong Sports Commission, the Hong Kong Sports Institute, the former Culture and Heritage Commission, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the Antiquities Advisory Board. The Hong Kong Sports Institute Limited was set up as a delivery agent to help develop sports in Hong Kong with special emphasis on training athletes for high- performance sports. In January 2005, the Government established the Sports Commission to advise on all matters related to sports development. The commission oversees the Elite Sports Committee, the Major Sports Events Committee and the Community Sports Committee which give advice on different aspects of sporting activities. The new advisory structure is a milestone for sports development in Hong Kong. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), an executive arm of the Home Affairs Bureau, provides leisure and cultural services to the community, preserves its cultural heritage, beautifies its physical environment, and fosters synergy among sports, cultural and community organisations.
[Show full text]