B. WHITE'S letter (South China Morning Post, April 8) headlined, 'Days off disrupted', suggested that activities at the University of Hong Kong's sports facilities at Sandy Bay prove disturbing to nearby residents, that there are no restrictions on level or duration of noise and that the use of facilities by non-university groups should be discouraged.
These criticisms deserve a response and I should like to clarify the situation.
Universities increasingly see themselves as part of the community, not as remote ivory towers.
In Hong Kong, where sports facilities at local level are in short supply, the maximisation of facilities is not only desirable but a social responsibility.
The University of Hong Kong's facilities, when not needed for student or staff programmes, are made available to schools, to local sports associations, charitable organisations and occasionally large corporations.
Each year, over 1,000 such programmes are accommodated, normally during weekday mornings, without great detriment to local residents and to the obvious advantage, and pleasure of those participating.