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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
make full use of our advantage to develop the tourist trade. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. FRANCIS TANG CHI-HO (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
MR. STANLEY NG WING-FAI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I fully support Mr. Joseph LAI's motion. I think Mr. Lai has left out one point when referring to the planned exhibits and implementation work. Good things must be included, so do bad things. I think we need to include in the maritime museum the activities of the gang of pirates and their hideout in Cheung Po Chai Cave.
Speaking about vessel building, we actually seldom built large vessels. Our geographical position resulted in our important functions during different times of history. During the Japanese occupation, we went through an important phase as the one step through which supplies were sent inland. During that period, shipments were mostly via sea voyages. Tens of years ago, many marine hawkers did business via Hong Kong. These are topics for display at the future maritime museum. I feel that besides describing the important place of Hong Kong on the world maritime map, we can fill up blanks left by the history textbooks of our students. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(4) MR. KWOK BIT-CHUN moved as follows:—
'RESOLVED that the Council should enhance the promotion of popularization of visual arts and actively consider subsidizing local groups to promote relevant activities at the district level.'
He said (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, one of the terms of reference of the Urban Council is to provide venues for the staging of art and cultural activities or to stage, sponsor and assist any person or body to stage art and cultural activities.
All along, visual art was neglected in our use of resources to promote art and culture. If we compare the emphasis on fine art and handicraft, we can see clearly that visual art is neglected. This Council is not alone in this. In general, relevant bodies or government departments tend to place more emphasis on performing art when resources are provided for the promotion of art and culture.