Page 64 of 135
88
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Thirdly, the Victoria Park lawn bowling green will be widely publicized in order to encourage more people to make use of the facilities. It is intended that bowling woods should be provided free of charge although a charge will be levied for the use of the green.
a small
I am confident that these steps will help to popularize lawn bowls in Hong Kong and at the same time increase the usage of the Victoria Park Lawn Bowls Green.
MR YOUNG (in English):- Mr Chairman, apart from the natural turf green at Victoria Park, is the Council aware that there is at least one artificial bowling green in Hong Kong, and if so, will the Council be taking steps to promote the sport in this direction?
MR LO (in English):- Mr Chairman, personally I am not aware that artificial turf has been used in Hong Kong or elsewhere. Perhaps MR YOUNG could give details so we can look into this matter. As you are aware, the Council is considering using artificial turf for football pitches.
3 MR JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):- What planning progress has been made for the Museum of Art to be constructed within the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex? What is the policy on acquisition of exhibits for the Museum?
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUMS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):- The Museum of Art will have a new home in the Museum Block in the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex. The Museum Block is now in Category B of the Public Works Programme while the rest of the Cultural Complex project has been upgraded to Category A. It is expected that the Museum Block will be upgraded to Category A next year, and construction work is expected to be completed by late 1982. The Architectural Office of the Public Works Department has produced preliminary sketches for the Museum Block and will shortly proceed to prepare detailed drawings.
A revised Schedule of Accommodation for the Museum of Art was accepted by the Museums Select Committee in September and endorsed by the Cultural Complex and Indoor Stadia Sub-Committee in October. The total floor area required is 10,595 sq. m. (114,000 sq. ft.) This will accommodate a total of 24 galleries which can be grouped broadly under four categories:- (1) Chinese Painting and Calligraphy; (2) Chinese Ceramics, Antiquities and Crafts; (3) Historical Pictures; and (4) Modern and Contemporary Art.
Allowances have been made for future increases in acquisitions and for special rooms to house bequests and donations from the public. In addition,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 64 of 135
89
an area of 929 sq. m. (10,000 sq. ft.) has been earmarked for temporary exhibitions. The public display area will occupy 6,133 sq. m. (about 66,000 sq. ft.) or 58% of the total floor area. The remaining area is for general public facilities, Education and Extension Services, Societies Rooms, Storage, Research and Offices.
The general policy governing the collections of the Museum of Art is that they should either be of local origin or relevant to the local community with emphasis on the following areas: - (1) Historical Local Art; (2) Modern Local Art; (3) Chinese Ceramics, Antiquities and Crafts; (4) Chinese Painting and Calligraphy.
In December 1977, a five-year programme of acquisitions was approved by the Museums Select Committee. The programme aims to build up the collections for display in the new Museum of Art at the Cultural Complex at Tsim Sha Tsui. It is hoped to acquire, by 1982, 900 items of historical local art, 1,000 items of modern local art, 800 items of Chinese ceramics, 1,000 items of paper-cuts and woodblock prints, 500 items of textile and costume decorations, 350 items of jade, bronze, lacquer, cloisonne, etc. and 700 items of Chinese painting and calligraphy. This list is by no means a total list, but in broad outline, we hope to move in this direction.
MR MACKENZIE (in English):- Mr Chairman, may I ask if any private collections have yet been donated to the museum and if the Museums Select Committee encourages such action?
MR CHEONG-LEEN (in English):- There have been a number of donations and some of the items are quite valuable. The Museums Select Committee is constantly seeking to encourage the public to come forth and make valuable donations and in making these donations due recognition will be given to the donors who are generous enough to make such donations.
MOTION
THE CHAIRMAN, Urban Council, moved the following motion:- "That the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1979-80 and the list of works which the Council proposes to undertake during the next financial year be approved for transmission to the Governor in accordance with Section 39 of the Urban Council Ordinance."
He said (in English):- The Council has just put together another annual budget. It is the culmination of a careful and protracted departmental exercise in conjunction with the select committees concerned. Still, it can bear an in-
Page 64 of 135