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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(3) The products are mostly for export markets, and competition from neighbouring South-east Asian countries has been keen. If the products lose their competitiveness, the workers will also suffer.
Apart from the setting up of Central Provident Funds, there are, in fact, other feasible means—
1. The government may grant tax reductions to encourage individual employers to introduce personal investment scheme.
2. To improve step by step the present social security scheme to adapt to circumstances, for example
(a) increase long service payment;
(b) allow those who lose their working abilities due to medical reasons to benefit from the long service payment scheme;
(c) improve the Public Assistance and Special Needs Allowance Schemes. If necessary, the eligibility age for the Old Age Allowance should be brought forward to 65.
Mr. Chairman, I am of the opinion that the government must not hastily decide on the issues of 'review on the system of government' and 'Central Provident Funds'. Members of the Council and the public must make no compromise in their stands, for each and every one of us is responsible for the future prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
With these words, I support the motion.
(The Chairman declared a recess at 3.55 p.m. and the meeting resumed at 4.10 p.m.)
DR. PHILIP C. K. Kwok (in English):-Mr. Chairman,
PART 1
Introduction
As Chairman of the Museums Select Committee, I would like to say few words about the Council's museum services.
Museum of Art
As in previous years, the Museum of Art has continued to organize exhibitions and lectures, and produce film programmes and exhibition catalogues on a variety of subjects. In association with the exhibition on 'The Art of Henry Moore', the Urban Council and the Education Department jointly presented a painting competition for pupils entitled 'My Impression: The Art of Henry Moore in Hong Kong'. This exhibition featured about 200 awarded and selected entries from the competition. Other highlights were the exhibition on 'Poetry through Material, Light and Movement' jointly presented by the Council and the Goethe-Institute, "The Elegant Brush: Chinese Painting under the Qianlong Emperor' jointly presented by the Council and the Phoenix Art Museum in the United States, etc.
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The permanent Museum of Art project at Tsim Sha Tsui has been upgraded by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council during the year at a cost of $125.4 million. Piling on the building is expected to start later this month and the new Museum completed in 1989/90. The Museum of Art Planning Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. W. M. SULKE has made such progress and as a result the interior design of the galleries have been finalized. A more vigorous acquisition programme has been pursued in the year, but as the Museum has large gaps in its collections, any assistance from collectors would be very gratefully appreciated.
Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware
Four exhibitions, including 'Tea Wares by Hong Kong Potters' and its associated competition, were organized this year. A section on the cultivation of tea in Hong Kong was added to the permanent exhibition, and the Museum has also been used as the venue of Festival of Asian Arts receptions.
Museum of Science and Technology
With an aim to awaken an interest in science and technology, the Museum upon completion in 1990 will serve the community as a popular educational centre as well as a place of entertainment. Occupying an area of 13 500 m2, the Museum will be a building of considerable social and cultural significance to Hong Kong.
Under the able chairmanship of Mr. Lawrence FUNG, the History, Science and Space Museums Planning Sub-Committee has witnessed a year of rapid progress for the Science Museum project. In April, the Museum Consultant submitted an Outline Facility Programme, a Preliminary Site Utilization Zoning Diagram and a Master Zoning Study for the Museum of History and Science project. A private Consultant Architect for the Science Museum Phase I Project was appointed in October, and work has also started on the preparation of an Exhibit Conceptual Master Plan. The selection of the design team for the Exhibit Conceptual Master Plan is now under consideration. As the exhibits will be the heart of the Museum, great care is being taken to ensure that Hong Kong will have a world-class science museum in its exhibits. Piling on the building is due to start in January 1988, and the building is expected to be completed in February 1990.
In the meantime, the Science Museum Office continues to organize extension activities, including popular science lectures, film shows and seminars together with the phototype exhibit development programme in co-operation with the Hong Kong Polytechnic.
Space Museum
In pursuance of the policy to maximize the potential use of the Space Theatre for those in search of educational entertainment as well as those with a serious interest in astronomy and space sciences, two omnimax shows, 'Grand Canyon The Hidden Secrets' and 'Flyers' have been shown concurrently with traditional sky shows on 'The World of Einstein' and 'Introducing the Solar
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