178
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
before we can put pressure on the hawkers, facing or channelling them back to normal work.
2. Recreation
Hong Kong is one of the most crowded city in the world and there are serious complaints of inadequate recreational facilities for our population. Therefore, the demand for more recreational facilities is growing and pressure is high. However, no matter how ambitious the Council may be in building more such facilities, the limitation is there in terms of money and land. As regards money, while the Council is not exempted from the adverse effects of inflation in recent years its revenue has suffered a disproportionate growth because of the unfortunate fact that the rates, which forms the major part of the Council's income, have remained unchanged for many years. As regards land, it is not within the control of the Council and it is therefore not its fault if there is no land available for any recreational projects for certain districts. Both problems in terms of money and land can only be solved by the Council with the assistance from the Central Government.
3. Keep Hong Kong Clean
Both the Council and the Central Government have paid a high price to keep Hong Kong clean. Part of the expenditure can be considered a normal city service, but part of it can be classified as uncalled for, reckless littering and dumping of rubbish have made it necessary to maintain litter wardens, and a bigger team of labourers thus incurring expenses on many activities, both operational and educational. If members of the public can respond more conscientiously to the Council's appeal, many items of expenditure can either be saved or reduced.
To make our city a better and more pleasant place to live in, it needs not only the service of the Council but also the understanding and support from the Central Government and members of the public.
With the above remarks, I support the motion.
THE HON. SELINA CHOW (in English):---Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council's contribution to the cultural development of Hong Kong deserves recognition in 3 ways:
Firstly: It supplies well-managed facilities in the Urban Area. Secondly: It fulfils the role of the seasoned impresario in bringing to Hong Kong a high standard and wide cross-section of local and overseas artists in all categories of the performing arts, taking a thoroughly professional approach in promotion and marketing of their performances. Moreover, the Council exercises creativity in launching and continuously hosting a number of successful annual festivals which have proven to not only service Hong Kong people as a whole, but also inspiring and healthily challenging to other cultural bodies in Hong Kong. It must also be remembered that many fresh ideas initiated by the Council are directly or indirectly contributing to the awakening of cultural demands in the New Territories.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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challenging to other cultural bodies in Hong Kong. It must also be remembered that many fresh ideas initiated by the Council are directly or indirectly contributing to the awakening of cultural demands in the New Territories.
Thirdly: The Council takes on the task of nurturing local talents through two major means. One is to sponsor the productions of independent well-organized and dedicated performing groups. Another, which is a major and ongoing commitment of the Council, is to form, finance and direct its own performing companies.
The 3 performing Companies under the auspices of the Council are: The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra officially founded in 1977; The Hong Kong Repertory Company in 1978, and The Hong Kong Dance Company last May.
Apart from the Chinese Orchestra and the Repertory Company both of which are fully occupied each season, playing to full houses almost all the time, the Dance Company will hold its premier on the 22nd of this month.
A feasibility study is now being conducted on the formation of a Chinese Opera Company, a decision on which is expected later this year.
All the energy and effort that have gone into the development of these highly professional companies are being appreciated, judging from the most favourable reception they have enjoyed from the local audience. They are even beginning to establish a reputation overseas. The Chinese Orchestra has been invited by the 1982 Commonwealth Games Festival to participate in its programme in Brisbane this coming September. Another invitation to attend the Singapore Arts Festival in December, has also been received. But unless the Government or other Hong Kong minded bodies would finance the Hong Kong portion of the expenses, it is unlikely that the Orchestra can take up the invitation, as it would be ultra vires for the Council to spend any of its fund on sponsoring overseas performances. This of course applies as a rule to all possible invitation that might arise in the future to all our performing companies. Thus Hong Kong would be deprived of excellent cultural representation overseas. This is a sad state of affairs and deserves careful consideration and rectification.
There is no denying that the recent years in Hong Kong saw a mushrooming of local cultural activities. How much of this is due to efforts on the part of the Council will remain a subject for discussion for some time. However, the Council's contribution and historical achievements to the entire territory deserve recognition. 20 years ago, when the City Hall opened, the Urban Council was one of the first to spear-head cultural activities in Hong Kong. Today, visitors and newcomers to Hong Kong are agog with the abundance of cultural activities we enjoy. It would be unfair; and furthermore uneconomical to obliterate this history, especially with the fast growing demand arising out of
Page 111 of 146
Page 112 of 146
has been corrected toPage 111 of 14
to
Page 112 of 146
is not needed as it is not in the original text, the correct one isPage 111 of 146
is kept and the wrongPage 111 of 14
is removed. The corrected response is:178
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
before we can put pressure on the hawkers, facing or channelling them back to normal work.
2. Recreation
Hong Kong is one of the most crowded city in the world and there are serious complaints of inadequate recreational facilities for our population. Therefore, the demand for more recreational facilities is growing and pressure is high. However, no matter how ambitious the Council may be in building more such facilities, the limitation is there in terms of money and land. As regards money, while the Council is not exempted from the adverse effects of inflation in recent years its revenue has suffered a disproportionate growth because of the unfortunate fact that the rates, which forms the major part of the Council's income, have remained unchanged for many years. As regards land, it is not within the control of the Council and it is therefore not its fault if there is no land available for any recreational projects for certain districts. Both problems in terms of money and land can only be solved by the Council with the assistance from the Central Government.
3. Keep Hong Kong Clean
Both the Council and the Central Government have paid a high price to keep Hong Kong clean. Part of the expenditure can be considered a normal city service, but part of it can be classified as uncalled for, reckless littering and dumping of rubbish have made it necessary to maintain litter wardens, and a bigger team of labourers thus incurring expenses on many activities, both operational and educational. If members of the public can respond more conscientiously to the Council's appeal, many items of expenditure can either be saved or reduced.
To make our city a better and more pleasant place to live in, it needs not only the service of the Council but also the understanding and support from the Central Government and members of the public.
With the above remarks, I support the motion.
THE HON. SELINA CHOW (in English):---Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council's contribution to the cultural development of Hong Kong deserves recognition in 3 ways:
Firstly: It supplies well-managed facilities in the Urban Area. Secondly: It fulfils the role of the seasoned impresario in bringing to Hong Kong a high standard and wide cross-section of local and overseas artists in all categories of the performing arts, taking a thoroughly professional approach in promotion and marketing of their performances. Moreover, the Council exercises creativity in launching and continuously hosting a number of successful annual festivals which have proven to not only service Hong Kong people as a whole, but also inspiring and healthily challenging to other cultural bodies in Hong Kong. It must also be remembered that many fresh ideas initiated by the Council are directly or indirectly contributing to the awakening of cultural demands in the New Territories.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 111 of 146
179
challenging to other cultural bodies in Hong Kong. It must also be remembered that many fresh ideas initiated by the Council are directly or indirectly contributing to the awakening of cultural demands in the New Territories.
Thirdly: The Council takes on the task of nurturing local talents through two major means. One is to sponsor the productions of independent well-organized and dedicated performing groups. Another, which is a major and ongoing commitment of the Council, is to form, finance and direct its own performing companies.
The 3 performing Companies under the auspices of the Council are: The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra officially founded in 1977; The Hong Kong Repertory Company in 1978, and The Hong Kong Dance Company last May.
Apart from the Chinese Orchestra and the Repertory Company both of which are fully occupied each season, playing to full houses almost all the time, the Dance Company will hold its premier on the 22nd of this month.
A feasibility study is now being conducted on the formation of a Chinese Opera Company, a decision on which is expected later this year.
All the energy and effort that have gone into the development of these highly professional companies are being appreciated, judging from the most favourable reception they have enjoyed from the local audience. They are even beginning to establish a reputation overseas. The Chinese Orchestra has been invited by the 1982 Commonwealth Games Festival to participate in its programme in Brisbane this coming September. Another invitation to attend the Singapore Arts Festival in December, has also been received. But unless the Government or other Hong Kong minded bodies would finance the Hong Kong portion of the expenses, it is unlikely that the Orchestra can take up the invitation, as it would be ultra vires for the Council to spend any of its fund on sponsoring overseas performances. This of course applies as a rule to all possible invitation that might arise in the future to all our performing companies. Thus Hong Kong would be deprived of excellent cultural representation overseas. This is a sad state of affairs and deserves careful consideration and rectification.
There is no denying that the recent years in Hong Kong saw a mushrooming of local cultural activities. How much of this is due to efforts on the part of the Council will remain a subject for discussion for some time. However, the Council's contribution and historical achievements to the entire territory deserve recognition. 20 years ago, when the City Hall opened, the Urban Council was one of the first to spear-head cultural activities in Hong Kong. Today, visitors and newcomers to Hong Kong are agog with the abundance of cultural activities we enjoy. It would be unfair; and furthermore uneconomical to obliterate this history, especially with the fast growing demand arising out of
Page 111 of 146