Page 390 of 485
Page 390 of 485
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
103
standard, and also since they were from overseas, the expenses on hotels and air passages were high. However, was any consideration given to the vast difference in subsidy level, i.e. $30,000 for the local performing groups and $210,000 for the overseas performing groups? In other words, subsidies for overseas groups were 7-times as much as those for the local groups. From the viewpoint as a Hong Kong taxpayer, public money should be spent on supporting new local performing groups and various forms of local arts. So we really should re-assess the expenditure level in this aspect. Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask Mr. PAO the following questions. Mr. P.40, what you first talked about were figures for the year 1995/96. Can you give us the statistics concerning the subsidy level for the performing groups over the past 10 years? How about the future trend? Will there be an assessment or review on this matter? The problem is, if our subsidy for each performance by overseas groups is 7-times as much as our subsidy for one performance by the local groups. I believe the cost-effectiveness for such subsidies is obvious. Of course, I am not stressing that we should only subsidize the local groups, but there should be a reasonable balance. This is the gist of the paper submitted by the Democratic Party.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I do not have the figures for the past 10 years in hand. But just now Mr. LAI has made a very good suggestion, i.e. we should look at the past figures and trend, and conduct a review and consider the situation. I think perhaps the Working Group on Drafting the Culture Select Committee's Five-Year Plan can study the relevant information. A comprehensive review can be conducted. I think this is a very positive suggestion. The Culture Select Committee will refer this issue to the Working Group on Drafting the Culture Select Committee's Five-Year Plan for further study. However, I would like to raise a small point. For cultural activities, if we only look at the average amount of subsidy for each performance and then jump to a conclusion basing only on that average, I think this is very dangerous because the standards of art groups of different cultures may differ substantially. For example, there may be great differences in respect of remuneration for and popularity of the artists. So in deciding cultural activities for Hong Kong in future, should we use the average cost as a standard to achieve the highest cultural-effectiveness, or is there a need to invite world-class overseas performers to perform in Hong Kong in order that the Hong Kong people may have an opportunity to view their performance? I think the Culture Select Committee has the responsibility to weigh the matter and strike a balance in future.
MR. KAM NAI-WAI (in Cantonese):-I believe no Councillor would object to granting subsidy to the local performing groups, but I would like to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee a question. At present, is there a formal channel for the local performing groups to apply for subsidies from the Urban Council? What I mean by formal channel is submitting an application other than through personal connections. For instance, are there any formal application
Page 390 of 485
Page 390 of 485
Page 390Page 391