Page 110 of 174
180
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
this respect, we should do our best to make up for lost time. It is important too that more should be done to improve local standards by employing on contract top-rated overseas artists to train local people.
The Urban Council Art Awards have sought to give encouragement and recognition to local artists, and perhaps it is time to extend the Awards into other areas such as Short Story and Poetry Awards on Hong Kong themes. Also, Translation Awards would be appropriate, since the Urban Council is committed to bilingualism and the harmonious integration of both Chinese and Western cultural influences.
With the formation of the various town advisory boards in the New Territories, there will be increasing scope for co-operation in cultural activities between the Urban Council and these advisory boards.
For example, there will be more opportunities for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to put up performances in New Territories towns, which in another ten years will have a population of about two million.
As more exhibition halls become available in the New Towns, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Museum of History will no doubt be called upon to put out on loan part of their growing collections for periodic exhibition in the New Towns.
The Hong Kong Museum of Art is meantime embarking on a five-year art acquisition programme in anticipation of the completion of the Cultural Complex by 1982-83.
The Hong Kong Museum of History is co-operating closely with the Antiquities Board in discovering and preserving historical objects and sites. Currently, the Museum has on display facsimiles of rock carvings found in various parts of Hong Kong which could date back to more than 2,000 years ago. The Museum of History will of a certainty continue to play a dynamic part in helping local people to rediscover their own cultural and local history.
At the same time, the Urban Council would be failing in its responsibility if it did not look ahead to anticipate the aspirations of the young people of Hong Kong. For this reason, we are actively pushing ahead in the building of a Science and Technology Museum.
Perhaps we might have to make-do with temporary premises for the Science and Technology Museum, pending the allocation by Government of a permanent site, such as the one asked for by the Urban Council located at Tsim Sha Tsui. Science and technology is today of vital importance in shaping the future of the world, and Hong Kong is no exception. Such a museum would assist to communicate scientific and technical information to the masses in an understandable and meaningful way. The Urban Council has the responsibility to provide the facilities to acquaint the public and school children with the nature, progress, potential benefits and dangers of science and technology in society.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 110 of 174
181
Space Museum
Upon completion in 1979, the Hong Kong Space Museum will be one of the most advanced and modern in the world. Astronomy is probably the oldest of sciences, and today in the age of space exploration, a space museum has a vital role to play in the scientific and cultural life of our community.
The Hong Kong Space Museum will be comparing most favourably with planetariums (the more classical name for space museum) in other great cities of the world such as Tokyo, London and New York.
The Space Museum will be showing between 8 to 10 shows a day. During the day time, the shows will be principally for school groups, while the evening shows will be open to the general public. It is expected that most of the shows will be narrated in Chinese, but at least one school show and one public show will be narrated in English every day. Admission charges will be kept as low as possible.
Some of the titles of the Space Museum Shows which are under preparation are:
Astronomy through the Ages
Voyage to the Other Planets
Is there other Life in the Universe? Legends in the Sky
School shows will be designed for students in upper primary and secondary classes, and will be educational, thought provoking as well as entertaining.
Recreation and Sports
In recreation and sports, the Urban Council has taken the lead, with the co-operation of the Recreation and Sports Council, in showing what can be done to stimulate healthy and outdoor activities for both young and old alike. It is important though that all such activities in the urban areas should be well co-ordinated in order to avoid any
Page 110
Page 111
Page 111 of 174