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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
join China's structure of organizational establishment in the latter transitional period to strive for democracy, this has to be discussed further by the democratic groups. According to the analysis made by the Association for DPL, the present situation shows that China and Britain are each going their separate ways. Whether we should get into China's structure of organizational establishment to take part in building a post-97 Hong Kong or just criticize from the outside to pressurize China into making improvements is still awaiting more comprehensive discussions. I would like to quote an example here. In 1982 and 1983 I relentlessly urged the pressure groups to stand for election and join Hong Kong's organizational establishment. Those representatives who objected to joining are all now on the Legislative Council. History is full of surprises. No one could have guessed that ten years later we are facing a similar situation again. Therefore, whether we ultimately choose to work inside or outside the structure of organizational establishment may be just a consideration of timing, not a question of right or wrong.
Nevertheless, the Association for DPL has never given up mass movements outside the organizational establishment, such as petitions and demonstrations, to express our dissatisfaction with those in power. Whether facing the Hong Kong Government, the Chinese Government or the future SAR Government, we will continue to reflect our views to the authority in this manner. We will also continue actions like organizing gatherings to remember participants of the June 4 Democracy Movement and sending mooncakes to Qincheng Prison at the Mid-Autumn Festival, so that the Chinese side would know that our attitude towards the democracy movement in China remains unchanged and that the Chinese side has made mistakes in the way it handles these matters.
Finally, I sincerely hope that members of various democratic groups at different tiers of representative government and those outside the structure of organizational establishment will not view accelerated democratization as a simple question. When our views differ, we should regard each other's views with an open mind and carry out debates so that the truth will emerge. I believe all democratic groups have the same aspirations for democracy and their only differences lie in strategy, timing and pace. If the democratic groups cannot tolerate different views and do not take a democratic approach just because of these differences and if they continue to censure one another, they will only discourage believers in democracy from taking part in democratic construction. As a result, there will be less and less people taking the road of democracy and it will be increasingly difficult for us to achieve democracy. Then, our ideal of bringing in democracy cannot be achieved. What is the point of doing all this then? I hope those people with an aspiration for democracy will think about this carefully.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
THE HON. MARVIN CHEUNG KIN-TUNG (in English):—As Chairman of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, I would like to give a short report on the activities of the Orchestra for the past year.
## HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As David ATHERTON's fifth season as Music Director gets under way, the Orchestra's image is becoming firmly established as adventurous and responsive and in no way the 'museum piece' that many orchestras are labelled today. This has been a year in which the Orchestra has sought new challenges and been inspired by many fine performances, the appearance of artists of stature and the critical acclaim which it has received.
No less than eight works by local composers have been given world premieres since the beginning of the 93-94 season in September.
Dr. CHAN Wing-wah has been appointed as the Orchestra's first Composer in Residence. He will assist Maestro ATHERTON in evaluating and selecting future new works by local and overseas Chinese composers. The Orchestra is in the unique position of being able to make close contact with these composers. Many of them have left China and Hong Kong to further their education and experience elsewhere, and are making a positive impact wherever they settle.
It is hoped that major personnel problems have been overcome. Recruitment of new players has been most successful, each vacancy having been filled by a musician of greater ability. Morale is high and this too results in a continuously improving playing standard. No anomalies in pay now exist.
The decision to engage violinist, Barry WILDE, as the new Concertmaster is another important move. His musical maturity and wide experience is unanimously recognised and praised and he has raised the string section to previously unscaled heights.
Thanks to the work of Maestro ATHERTON, it has been possible to engage highly acclaimed guest artists who are sought after the world over. Artur PIZARO, the Portuguese pianist, thrilled audiences as did the British pianist, John LILL. Excellent notices were published for the British organist Peter HURFORD's performance in an all-French programme in November. The appearance of the world's greatest horn player, Barry TUCKWELL, with tenor, Robert TEAR, in a programme of Britten's music also won rave reviews.
The New and Unusual Concerts based on BBC films featuring the lives and music of contemporary composers, Alban BERG, Anton WEBERN and Igor STRAVINSKY, continue with live performances by the players and commentary by David TANG.
Again the Orchestra has been invited to perform two concerts in the 1994 Arts Festival. Our guest artist is the Canadian Leeds Competition prize winner, Jon Kimura PARKER, who will play two concertos of completely different styles in each of the two concerts. The Orchestra will again accompany the opera production of Mozart's 'the Magic Flute'.
We were able to engage the Chinese violinist, XUE Wei, to perform the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, in spite of the fact that he is billed as the 'hottest recording property of the year'.
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