The Leisure and Cultural Services Department endeavours to provide quality leisure and cultural services for enriching the life of our community. In 2006, like in our past five years, we continued to offer our wide range of well-equipped leisure and cultural facilities for use by members of the public, and professional and community organisations. We also organised diversified leisure activities and cultural programmes to enhance public interest in the sports, arts and culture. I am pleased to present this overview of our work in the year, and would like to use this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to all my colleagues for their unfailing support to the work of the Department and for their dedication to serving the community.

On the sporting front, we made an enhanced effort in assisting with the preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events due to take place in Hong Kong in 2008. We moved full steam ahead with preparing for the 2009 East Asian Games that Hong Kong will host. At the local level, we worked hand in hand with the 18 District Councils in making preparations for the inaugural Hong Kong Games to encourage the community’s involvement in sporting activities. In schools, we introduced the sportACT Award Scheme under the on-going School Sports Programme to encourage students’ participation in sports.

On the culture side, we hosted the 20^th International Society for the Performing Arts International Congress. Attended by arts and culture experts and professionals from 32 countries and regions, it provided a good opportunity to showcase Hong Kong artists and their work to the world, and to strengthen their international networks.

On hardware, we completed a number of projects and opened them to the public for their use and enjoyment. Three major projects worthy of particular mention were Stanley Municipal Services Building, Nan Lian Garden and Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum.

We also received an Honourable Mention at the 2006 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation for the restoration of the Liu Ying Lung Study Hall in the North District, which is a significant recognition of our joint effort with the community in preserving local heritage.

In the years to come, we shall continue to work hard in providing quality services for quality life.






Thomas Chow, JP
Director of Leisure and Cultural Services