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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Take 1994 for example, a total of 70,000 parents and children were attracted to the activities. In fact, cultural activities targeted at children are most welcome by parents and children alike. We only schedule such activities once a year, which means we only touch on the surface in promoting cultural education for children. On the other hand, there are so many cultural activities organized for the adults throughout the year.
As Urban Councillors and policy makers, we often take the adult's view when organizing activities for children. We may think that children have more free time during the Summer holidays, whereas during the rest of the year, they should devote their time to textbooks. As a result, we may feel there is relatively less genuine need for organising children's cultural programmes. In fact, it is obvious that the Council at present organizes limited programmes for children; I find that a review is in order.
People dedicated to the promotion of activities or cultural programmes for children have been working diligently but silently. For example, the achievement of the Hong Kong Children's Choir has been recognized, and the Anonymity Dramatic Club has devoted itself to drama creations for children. As regards our relatively limited activities for children, I think in future the Council should aim at striking a balance in the provision of cultural activities. Children are the masters of our future and the pillars of our future society. The Council should therefore take up an active role in promoting cultural activities for children.
I said the Council should take up an active role, but it does not mean that the Council should be wholly responsible for children's activities. I just want to ask the Council to study feasible ways to help promote cultural activities for young children so that they will grow from strength to strength.
Mr. TAM Kwok-kiu will continue to offer some feasible suggestions for your consideration. Here, I would like to put forward one proposal which I feel is feasible. We have quite a number of USD staff responsible for cultural services. However, we don't have many who know about child psychology or how to promote cultural activities targeted at children. If the Department thinks there is no expertise among existing staff to develop this, consideration can be given to recruiting contract staff specially devoted to coordinating cultural performing groups targeted at children.
The purpose of my motion today is mainly to arouse your concern towards the promotion of children's cultural activities. At this stage, I feel we are not doing enough. I hope that my motion will make the Council take a more active approach towards developing cultural activities for children. I hope you will support my motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. TAM KWOK-KIU (in Cantonese): I second the motion.
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