Chapter 13
Recreational, Sports, Cultural and Arts Activities
Policy Objective
13.1
The policy objective of the Government in promoting the
participation of persons with disabilities in recreational, sports, cultural and
arts activities is to provide appropriate activities and facilities to persons
with disabilities, with a view to giving them opportunities to develop their
potentials, improving their quality of life, and facilitating their active
participation in community activities and full integration into the
community.
Background and Existing Services
13.2
At present, “universal participation” and “individual
enhancement” are the two main targets of the Government’s strategy in
promoting participation of persons with disabilities in recreational, sports,
cultural and arts activities and their development in these areas. Each year,
the Government organises nearly 1 000 recreational and sports activities
specifically for persons with disabilities to enhance their participation.
Since its establishment in June 2001, the Hong Kong Paralympians Fund
has subsidised over 100 athletes with disabilities to participate in
international sports events. As at March 2006, the Fund has allocated
over $8.6 million for development of target sports and as subsistence
allowance to athletes with disabilities. Moreover, the Jockey Club Arts
for the Disabled Scheme launched in 2004 provides training and support
for the “universal participation” and “individual enhancement” of persons
with disabilities in the arena of arts and culture. The Scheme will benefit
over 40 000 persons with disabilities within five years.
13.3
We strive to achieve the above policy objective by carrying out
the following measures:

organising nearly 1 000 free recreational and sports activities
for persons with disabilities each year;
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
subsidising sports associations and NGOs to organise
recreational and sports activities for persons with disabilities;

subsidising NGOs to set up gateway clubs through optimum
use of the existing facilities of rehabilitation centres, with a
view to organising recreational and cultural activities for
people with intellectual disabilities during weekends and
holidays and promoting “a Society for All” through the
participation of volunteers and parents;

offering half-price concession to persons with disabilities and
their companions for participating in community recreational,
sports, cultural and arts activities;

providing barrier-free recreational and sports facilities, and
offering half-price concession to persons with disabilities,
their companions and approved rehabilitation service agencies
for booking the facilities;

providing barrier-free cultural and arts facilities, and offering
concession to non-profit making organisations for persons
with disabilities for booking venues to conduct various
cultural and arts activities;

the Jockey Club Arts for the Disabled Scheme and the Music
Office co-organising the Outreach Music Interest Class for
persons with disabilities and a three-year Instrumental Music
Training Scheme for students with disabilities. The two
training courses are tuition free with free musical instruments
made available to participants;

the Hong Kong Paralympians Fund supports development of
persons with disabilities in sports by offering encouragement
to athletes with disabilities who have strived to bring glory to
Hong Kong in their athletic careers, and helping retired
athletes with disabilities to secure employment and
commending on their contributions;
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
launching the Jockey Club Arts for the Disabled Scheme to
provide persons with disabilities with basic training courses on
visual and performing arts, school-based arts projects and
train-the-trainers workshop. The Scheme also commissioned
the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Arts with the
Disabled Association Hong Kong to conduct a two-year
research on teaching methods and assistive devices, and to
compile a user manual for cultural and arts training of persons
with disabilities;

launching a three-year Personal Development Programme for
non governmental organizations to organise a series of
subsidised systematic and structured arts and skills training
courses for persons with disabilities to develop their potentials
and improve their quality of life;

organising the International Festival of Inclusive Arts in
December 2006 to show to the public the artistic talents of
persons with disabilities through the cooperation and
exchanges of experience in arts activities between people with
or without disabilities; and

launching the Healthy Exercise-for-All Campaign which
includes a series of “fitness exercise” specially designed for
persons with disabilities.
Directions for Sustainable Development
13.4
Recreational, sports, cultural and arts activities are essential to a
balanced life and are of particular importance to persons with disabilities.
These activities can help improve greatly the physical fitness of persons
with disabilities, their social skills and competence, and are essential
components for an effective programme of social integration. In fact,
persons with disabilities in Hong Kong have long been very enthusiastic in
participating in recreational, sports, cultural and arts activities. Their
efforts have produced remarkable results, winning the recognition of the
general public. In the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, the 26 athletes
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representing Hong Kong achieved great triumph by winning a total of 19
medals, including 11 gold, seven silver and one bronze. A number of arts
troupes of persons with disabilities in Hong Kong have won prestigious
awards in many international and local performance events. In this
connection, the Working Group recommends to continue:

providing persons with disabilities with suitable activities and
facilities to encourage their active participation in mainstream
recreational, sports, cultural and arts activities;

providing customised recreational, sports, cultural and arts
activities for persons with disabilities who are unable to
participate in mainstream activities due to physical
impairments; and

supporting athletes and artists with disabilities who have the
potentials and talents to pursue a career in recreation, sports,
culture and arts.
13.5
The Working Group recommends the following long-term and
short-term objectives of service development along the above directions for
sustainable development:
Short-term Objectives

providing more train-the-trainer progammes;

ensuring recreational, sports, cultural and arts activities and
facilities are suitable for participation and use by persons with
disabilities; and

trainers and the staff involved can understand the special
needs of persons with disabilities when receiving training and
participating in activities;
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Long-term Objectives

ensuring the needs of persons with disabilities will be taken
into account in the development of all new recreational, sports,
cultural and arts activities and facilities;

persons with disabilities are capable of benefiting, displaying
their talents and integrating into the community through
participation in recreational, sports, cultural and arts activities;
and

persons with disabilities in Hong Kong are capable of making
strides and building up their names in sports and arts, both
locally and internationally.
Specific Measures Proposed
13.6
Measures proposed for further promotion of participation of
persons with disabilities in recreational, sports, cultural and arts activities
include:

providing barrier-free recreational, sports, arts and cultural
venues and facilities for persons with disabilities;

taking into account “universal participation” and “individual
enhancement” in promoting recreational, sports, cultural and
arts development for persons with disabilities;

organising recreational, sports, cultural and arts activities with
the target of “a Society for All” in mind to provide persons
with disabilities with equal opportunities of participation;

enhancing the knowledge on the needs of people with
disabilities among the staff of recreational, sports, cultural and
arts venues and those involved in organising recreational,
sports, cultural and arts activities, so that they are able to
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effectively assist persons with disabilities in using the facilities
and participating in the activities; and

giving proper recognition, education, training and support to
persons with disabilities with talents in sports and arts and the
determination to excel.
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