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RECREATION AND THE ARTS
Chang Dai-Chien and Ragence Lam Fashion Design (1973-1985)'. Another highlight was 'A Theatre Season of Contemporary Chinese Literary Masterpieces' in September and October. Film programmes featuring celebrated film-makers, the Chinese Film Special in May, and a Japanese Film Festival in August also enjoyed popular support. Classes on crafts and ceramics, Western and Chinese painting, photography and children's art were also conducted.
Ko Shan Theatre
Opened in March 1983 and situated inside Ko Shan Road Park in Hung Hom, the Urban Council's Ko Shan Theatre has 3 000 seats, of which 1 000 are under cover and 2 000 in the open air. This first purpose-built semi-open-air theatre is a regional centre available for hire by the public.
The Ko Shan Theatre is also a venue for the Hong Kong International Film Festival and the Festival of Asian Arts. Community activities and a number of other Urban Council presentations were held during the year. In all, about 87 000 people attended 115 per- formances in the theatre.
Council for the Performing Arts
The establishment of the Council for the Performing Arts was approved by the Executive Council in 1981 to advise the government on the development and needs of the performing arts in Hong Kong. Members were appointed to the council in February 1982. It has currently 15 unofficial and six official members.
Six committees service the main council in music, dance, drama, technical arts, business sponsorship and public relations, and finance. Each committee is chaired by an unofficial member of the council and to ensure that the council is advised by those actively involved in the performing arts in Hong Kong, it includes, as co-opted members, specialists and professionals in the particular fields.
From April 1, funds for the promotion of performing arts in Hong Kong were disbursed on the advice of the council from a specially designated block vote from government funds. New forms for applicants applying for grants from the block vote were devised in consultation with council members. The funds are given in the form of grants, namely, the general support grant, project grant, capital grant and grant to individuals. The main purpose of the grants is to encourage and foster artistic excellence in the performing arts field.
The council awarded general support grants to the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society, the Hong Kong Conservatory of Music, the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet, the Chung Ying Theatre Company and the City Contemporary Dance Company.
Culture Division
The Culture Division of the Municipal Services Branch is responsible for formulating and co-ordinating policies and forward planning in all aspects of culture, entertainment, libraries and museums of a 'national' nature. It is responsible for the enforcement of the Books Registration Ordinance and the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance and provides secretariat service to the Antiquities Advisory Board.
The division administers, on the advice of the Council for the Performing Arts, the government's financial support to various performing arts bodies and provides secretariat service to the Council for the Performing Arts and its six committees.