RECREATION
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contributions to the festival included Chinese opera, traditional Chinese shadow puppet plays, and a pipa recital by Feng Te-ming-a local musician of international repute.
In view of the ever increasing cultural activities, a new recital hall has been built in the high block of the City Hall. Since its inaugural concert in September, Urban Council cultural programmes have been held there regularly.
Another highlight of the year was the Festival of Asian Arts presented by the Urban Council in November. It was the first such regional festival of its kind. Performing groups from Southeast Asia included the Kyoto Municipal Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore People's Association Chinese Orchestra, the Bayanihan Dance Company of the Philippines, the Tokyo City Ballet, the Thai Dance Company and the Malaysian Dance Company. They joined with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Chinese Music Orchestra and wellknown local soloists in a spectacular festival.
Looking to the future, pile-driving began in September for the $20 million plane- tarium which will form the first phase of the Cultural Complex to be built at Tsim Sha Tsui. The planetarium-financed by the Urban Council-will include a sky theatre for 350, lecture rooms and exhibition areas. The council has ordered a 75-foot diameter dome for the sky theatre, making it one of the world's largest planetaria.
Arts Centre
After five years of planning and money-raising, the 19-storey Hong Kōng Arts Centre was structurally completed at the end of 1976 and work was begun on equipp- ing and furnishing the centre. The cost of the project—some $30 million—is being raised by private donations. The Hong Kong Island site, on land reclaimed from the sea at Wan Chai, was a grant from the government at the beginning of 1972. There is to be an official gala opening of the centre towards the end of 1977, although it is being used before then for various activities.
The elegant building occupies a commanding situation overlooking Victoria Harbour. It has a main theatre, recital hall, studio theatre, two floors of exhibition galleries, rehearsal facilities, a members' club, restaurants and other accommodation. It will provide a home for a number of cultural agencies in Hong Kong, some of which will present their own programmes of lectures, films and recitals in the centre.
The centre is unique in the world in three respects: the building overcomes planning problems previously thought to be insuperable; the centre covers the full range of arts--music, theatre, visual arts and literature; and it covers both Oriental and Western forms.
Ever since the Arts Centre as an organisation was founded in 1969, it has presented a wide range of performances and exhibitions in various premises. These have often been in association with other cultural or commercial bodies, and it is anticipated that this will continue. The Arts Centre pursues a multi-cultural policy, aiming to meet the varying needs of Hong Kong's diverse community while at the same time providing a lead in developing new cultural activities.