Page 391 of 485
1 of 485
104
# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
forms, any specific time for inviting applications, and any objective assessment criteria for granting subsidies to the performing groups?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, with regard to what Mr. KAM has just mentioned, actually we do have a formal channel. It is not that only those performing groups with personal connections can apply for subsidies while those which do not have personal connections cannot. We do have application forms and specific application procedures. As for details of the procedures, I can ask officers of the Cultural Services Division to explain to Mr. KAM after the meeting. But as far as I know, there are formal channels and procedures.
Mr. Albert Lai WING-LIN (in Cantonese):—In the literary and art circles, no one will claim that he is the best. Just now some Members said that the performing arts groups directly under or subsidised by the Council were being criticised in the cultural columns. Mr. Chairman, may I know if the matter has been looked into so as to find out whether the criticisms are personal views or general opinions as a result of voting? Since no one is the best in the world of literary and art, we should welcome other people's comments. Yet, do they represent the views of all the people concerned? Would the Chairman give me an answer?
My second question concerns subsidies to local performing groups and overseas performing companies invited to perform in Hong Kong. I would like to ask the Chairman whether it will help to raise the artistic level of local performing groups by inviting world renowned performing companies to perform in Hong Kong. Is it worthwhile even though we have to pay more?
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Is the Chairman you referred to the Chairman of the Culture Select Committee?
MR. LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):—Yes.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, both questions are difficult to answer. As for the first one, i.e. whether the criticisms published in the cultural columns were voted opinions, the answer is that I don't know. I think we have to ask the writer of the comments whether those were voted opinions; I do not know at all. I think they are most probably not voted opinions but personal opinions only.
The second question concerns subsidies to local and overseas performing companies and asks whether it will help to improve the standard of local performing art groups. It certainly will. When overseas performing companies put on a performance in Hong Kong, the local groups can improve their own performance standard through several ways. First, they can watch and learn from the show. Second, they can get in touch and exchange ideas with the
Page 391 of 485
1 of 485
104