RECREATION AND THE ARTS
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the Music Office's full-time and part-time instructors, trainees also received tuition from visiting musicians from overseas who conducted master classes and seminars.
An integral part of instrumental music training is orchestral and band training for trainees who attain an acceptable standard. During the year, the Music Office managed one youth symphony orchestra, five youth string orchestras, five youth Chinese orchestras, six youth symphonic bands, and one children's symphonic band. The office also has two instructors' orchestras, one Chinese and one Western and two choirs. Whenever possible, the youth orchestras, bands and choirs are given the opportunity to perform with world-renowned visiting musicians and conductors as well as orchestras and bands.
The Music Office organises an international music exchange programme to foster international understanding and to widen young musicians' horizons through cultural and musical exchange. In March, the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Music Ensemble performed in Italy in the Hong Kong-Mantua Friendship Festival. In August, the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra visited the United Kingdom to take part in the Edinburgh Festival of British Youth Orchestras, and to perform in Lincoln and London. Through these visits, the young 'music ambassadors' were able to demonstrate their achievements to a much wider audience.
Another major activity of the Music Office is the 'Music for the Millions' concert programme, to introduce music to new audiences. These concerts are given by the Music Office Instructors' Orchestras, bands and ensembles and are held in schools, playgrounds, hospitals, shopping malls and community halls. This year, 265 concerts were staged for audiences totalling 142 345.
As in the past seven years, the Music Office organised a Youth Music Camp from July 18 to August 2. Once again, the camp was held at the Po Leung Kuk Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp and some 1 500 young musicians were able to sample the life in a music camp, some as day-campers and others as residents. Two young musicians from Australia and three from Macau joined the local youths to benefit from the expert tuition provided by eight musicians from Australia, China, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Music Fund
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music Fund, set up in December 1979 with a donation of $10 million from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club for the promotion and development of music, dance and other related activities, is a non-statutory trust fund. Administered by a board of trustees comprising 10 members, the fund awarded 709 grants and 113 scholar- ships totalling $9 million, enabling the young people to study music and dance locally or abroad, and assisting local schools and organisations to acquire musical instruments and dance equipment.
In considering applications for scholarships, due emphasis was given to the applicants' aptitude and potential for further training. As for grants, applicant bodies embarking on worthwhile and deserving projects to promote music or dance were given either full or partial support.
Books Registration Office
The Books Registration Office of the Municipal Services Branch of the Government Secretariat is responsible for registering books printed or published in Hong Kong in accordance with the Books Registration Ordinance (Cap 142). Books so registered are announced quarterly in the Special Supplement No. 4 to the Hong Kong Government Gazette. This year, the office registered a total of 7 140 books comprising 2 356 in Chinese,