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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MOTION
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now 2.30 p.m. and I will ask the meeting to come to order. We now resume the debate on the "Statement of Aims for 1974". The first speaker this afternoon is Mr. T. S. Lo.
MR. LO TAK-SHING (in English):-Mr. Chairman, one could be forgiven for feeling that it is all rather pointless to debate the future direction that our Council should take since our future appears to be governed entirely by forces outside our control. We saw last year the effects of the world oil shortage, the British economic collapse, international monetary upheavals and White Hall interference with decisions of a local nature. (Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point.) Against this background it would appear naive to even pretend that we are masters of our destiny or captains of our fate. The fact that the Government appears daily to be more sensitive to political realities and less concerned with the sense of justice or the rule of law does nothing to brighten the picture.
However, we should not lose heart because fortunately in a way, matters which are the responsibilities of this Council, are in the overall picture, sufficiently minute in significance that perhaps in some way it is within our ability to make improvements.
Up to today the City Hall Select Committee has held 10 meetings and has considered a total of 110 papers dealing with matters arising from the policy or management of the City Hall.
The Select Committee has, as you know, assumed the responsibility of judging the merits of bookings and the financial needs of its non-profit making hirers. This responsibility has been discharged and, in my view, ably discharged by a Sub-committee consisting of Miss Ko Siu-wah (Chairman), Dr. Denny HUANG and Mr. Darwin CHEN. Up to today, HK$30,430.00 in subsidy has already been approved for functions to be held early next financial year. The Select Committee has also reviewed staffing requirements and as a first step has decided to replace the grade of Foremen with that of Assistant Information Officers and to engage Assistant Managers for backstage productions. Five of each have been asked for for 1974-5. Seminars have been held for junior staff to improve their relations with the public and decisions have been made by the Select Committee with a view to improving their quality. Accordingly, on staff matters, whilst we are still not calling the tune we are, at any rate, showing our reactions as an audience with greater effect.
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On the musical front the Council has, as you know, been actively supporting the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for the past ten years and since 1972 we have been giving direct subsidy. The Orchestra has taken the plunge to turn professional in 1974 and intends to give 78 performances and to spend approximately $1.7 million. Our direct subsidy is approximately one-third of this amount. In addition, the Council has decided to waive all hire charges for performances and rehearsals. Coldly and objectively the future of the Orchestra would seem to depend on its ability to attract and amuse the Hong Kong public. It is possible, in my view, for it to take one of three possible directions. First, it will be so unpopular that we could not justify further subsidy. Second, it will be so popular that our assistance will no longer be required. Third, it will be successful but continue to need substantial financial support from us. If it takes this last course it may well be logical for us to consider taking over the Orchestra entirely and running it as a Government Orchestra. All this, of course, is pure speculation. Meanwhile it remains for me to wish the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra the best of success for 1974 under the able leadership of its Chairman, Mr. Alex S. C. Wu, who is also a member of the City Hall Select Committee. I also welcome the fact that Mr. Darwin CHEN, our Assistant Director (Cultural Services) is now serving as the Chairman of the Orchestra's Management Committee. In the general context of music I should also like to report that the Select Committee has initiated the promotion of Chinese classical instrumental music, and for the first time we will present a programme of 20 Chinese classical instrumental concerts. To reach the people who might have been turned away in the past from the City Hall by the language barrier of some of its functions we are arranging for over a hundred performances of drama in Cantonese, ballet and dance presentations as well as other concerts. Naturally, all of these will be at popular prices. Furthermore, with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra turning professional, the Committee has decided on the purchase of a 24-foot mobile stage to enable it to present free open air concerts. Finally, we have decided to convert one of the lecture rooms in the High Block to a Chamber Music Room so that young local artists can give public performances at relatively low costs. The project is still under consideration by the central Government.
With our limited budget we are doing all we can to promote cultural functions at the City Hall and, as you know, we have throughout co-operated with national cultural organizations and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. We have also been pushing the Government for other cultural complexes at Tsim Sha Tsui and later at Kwun Tong. I say limited budget because, although theoretically we have financial