HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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them. In this connection, I have the following questions on such subsidy and support:
(1) What form of subsidy is given by the Council to the non-profit-making performing groups?
(2) For the cultural performances presented by the Council in the past year, what is the ratio of performances staged between local performing groups and overseas performing groups? What is the ratio of resources allocation in terms of expenditure for such groups?
(3) In the allocation of resources, has the Council attached more importance to the three Council's own performing companies and one directly funded performing group but neglected the freelance performing groups? Please give the ratio of financial resources allocated between them.
(4) Is there any Council policy to accord priorities in subsidising local performing groups, training budding young artists and promoting local arts? Please briefly explain the relevant policy and give examples of plans formulated under such policy.
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question concerns the Council's support to local performing arts organizations.
Presently, there are 4 schemes for supporting performances by local arts organizations. They are as follows:
(i) Urban Council as the presenter: the Council pays for all expenses and the arts organization is responsible for the production and performance. The ticket proceeds go to the Council.
(ii) Programme sponsorship (previously known as joint presentation): the arts organisation is responsible for the production, performance and publicity and bears all related costs. The Council provides the free use of venue and URBTIX service as well as administrative and publicity support. The ticket proceeds go to the arts organisation.
(iii) Rental subsidy: in hiring Urban Council facilities for performances, non-profit-making arts organisations can apply for a 65% rental reduction.
(iv) District Subsidy Scheme: the Council provides fixed cash subsidies to cultural activities organized through districts.
The second part of the question concerns the ratio of performances staged between local performing groups and overseas performing groups and the ratio of resources allocation in terms of expenditure for such groups.
In 1995/96, the Council has presented a total of 655 performances by local artists/groups at around $20.48m and 95 performances by overseas artists/groups at around $20.56m. These figures show that the expenditure on staging performances by overseas artists is slightly higher. This difference in total expenditure is mainly due to the fact that the overseas performing
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