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The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Artistic Director of the Council's Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, amongst others, also consulted.
The design and the facilities of the Cultural Centre are both up-to-date and sophisticated. For example, the Concert Hall and the Lyric Theatre will both have first-class acoustics; a revolving stage wagon and orchestra pit lifts will be provided in the Lyric Theatre; and the Studio Theatre will have variable stage formats to suit different types of experimental drama productions.
MR. LO KING-MAN (in English):—I wish to thank Mr. FUNG for his answer. In connection with the fact that this project is one funded by the Government with only limited Council financial input, may I ask Mr. FUNG whether the control of the use of the complex and the management will be, and to what extent, in the hands of the Council?
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, when the whole complex is completed, it is the Government's intention to hand over the management and control of the facilities to the Urban Council.
DR. THE HONOURABLE KIM CHAM (in English):—Mr. Chairman, what is the value of the contract awarded in November 1984 compared with the original estimate in 1979, is there any substantial increase?
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I do not have the original estimate on hand but I understand it is, I think, close to double the original amount. Perhaps the question is more relevant since Dr. Kim CHAM is on the Finance Committee of LegCo, and LegCo in fact is paying for this project. But the total project cost, as it was signed the other day, is $422 million of which the Urban Council will be paying $110 million and that is 26% of the total project cost, because Urban Council is paying for the Administration Block which will be the headquarters for the Cultural Services Division as well as the location for our Computer Centre.
DR. THE HONOURABLE KIM CHAM (in English):—Mr. Chairman, to what extent is this substantial increase of doubling the estimate attributable to all these decision making of layout and the four factors, in terms of two of which are aimed at cutting down cost presumably and in terms of design etc.?
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, some of the changes are really the responsibilities of Central Government through the Public Works Sub-Committee. In fact, I think the Council is paying some of the enhancement of these facilities, I do not have the actual breakdown, but I am sure I can supply it to Dr. Kim CHAM, for example, the organ is entirely paid for by Urban Council.
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DR. THE HONOURABLE KIM CHAM (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to give assurance that the Council has not deferred its decision making so as to attribute to the substantial increase in estimate.
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):—On the contrary, it was the Central Government who delayed the starting of the project and, therefore, it costs the Urban Council $110 million which is slightly more than the original amount, because in the opinion of the architect, the two projects must proceed at the same time, because the foundations are related to each other, had Council been able to make a free and independent decision, I think it would save Council a little bit of money.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Yes, Mr. Chairman, I would like to support Mr. FUNG's point, in the past five years, we have been urging the Government to bring forward the date of construction but the Government has not listened to us, all of us hope that we can have the Cultural Centre as soon as possible.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Dr. HUANG, does your statement appear to be a supplementary?
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I think that it would not suppose to lay blame on any particular organization, but I think it is quite straightforward and factual, and we sympathize with the Government too.
MOTION
1. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion:—
'That the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1985/86 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):—I move the adoption of to-day's Motion on the Urban Council's budget which is otherwise known as the 'Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure', with accompanying list of capital works for the 1985/86 financial year which will commence on 1 April 1985.
1984/85 Financial Year
The 1984/85 budget had estimated a deficit of $196 million. In September 1984, which is half way through the current financial year, it was estimated that this deficit would be reduced by $164 million to $32 million.
This reduction in the estimated deficit will mean the reserves will stand at $257 million as at 31 March 1985.