HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 18 January 1989
香港立法局 一九八九年一月十八日
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that the private sector is coughing up about 7 to 9% of the total cost required for the running of these companies.
MR. PAUL CHENG: Sir, it has been reported that the Urban Council will, with effect from 1 April, assume full funding responsibility for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Would the Government advise this Council whether this development will eventually spread to cover all other performing arts bodies?
SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION: I do not think so, Sir. The Hong Kong Philharmonic is a special case because the Urban Council has always been very closely involved in the funding and management of the orchestra. It meets two-thirds of the subvention made to the Philharmonic and the remaining one-third is met by Government because the Urban Council does not extend beyond the urban areas.
MISS LEUNG: Sir, will the Government please inform this Council whether public views have been sought with regards to Government's subvention of performing arts activities, if so, what are their views?
SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION: Sir, I do not believe that the public's view has been solicited on this particular matter. I am not aware of that, but I will find out from the Secretary for Municipal Services and I will give a written reply. (Annex IV)
林貝聿嘉議員問:政府可否告知本局,表演藝術機構之所以發生財政問題,除了經費龐大外,是 否表演節目不受本港人士歡迎?如是,政府會否提議詳細研究本港人士的口味,提供適合的節目
,使更多人參觀?
SECRETARY FOR DISTRCIT ADMINISTRATION: Sir, as I have said, one of the responsibilities for the Council for the Performing Arts is to promote the arts in Hong Kong, and one of the ways to do it is to popularize the arts. In a choice of programme, I think they do run into difficulties. Obviously it pays them to stage the popular performances, (and I am sure they try their best to do it), but sometimes in order to enhance the level of appreciation of the arts they might
obscure choose to present some of the more artistic, but to the public
works. I think in those cases for the sake of enhancing the level of appreciation of the arts that is a small price we might have to pay.