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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
increase the number of cultural and entertainment programmes in Kwun Tong.
Due to the absence of a cultural complex, it is impossible to organize any other arts and cultural programmes in Kwun Tong. There is no venue whatsoever in the district for chamber music and drama performances. Civic centres in the neighbouring district have to be used even for putting on calligraphy and painting exhibitions, pottery exhibitions etc. And there is no suitable indoor venue for holding ceremonies of the Kwun Tong District Festival and other large-scale events. Years ago, the Kwun Tong Arts Festival was held once, but except for the arts fair which could be organized in a pitch, other arts activities were all faced with the problem of a lack of suitable venues. Probably because of this very reason, the Festival was only organized once and since then nobody has ever talked about organizing it again. As for parents and residents wishing to see the performances of the Kwun Tong Children's Choir, they have to go to civic centres outside the district. Even the Kwun Tong Dance Group which is considered a quasi-government organisation has to use different places for rehearsal, let alone having any performing venues. In recent years, the Cantonese opera craze has swept over Kwun Tong. Well-established community organisations and even mutual aid committees organize Cantonese opera singing classes or groups. Some of these classes or groups are of a fairly high standard, but their development is greatly hampered by the lack of performing venues. Although the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre in the neighbouring Wong Tai Sin district is available for use, it is strictly speaking not an ideal venue. It is strongly criticized for its location and design, and its capacity cannot cope with the actual need. The Kwun Tong District Singing Contest, which had been held in the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre for 11 years in succession, had to be relocated to the Ko Shan Theatre in Kowloon City from last year onwards because the former could not accommodate the audience which had been increasing year after year.
Since its establishment, the Kwun Tong District Board has kept on asking the Government and the Urban Council to recognize and satisfy Kwun Tong residents' pressing need for a cultural complex. The District Board once formed an ad hoc group and commissioned an independent market research company to conduct a survey in order to ascertain the demand for a cultural complex by the residents and organisations in Kwun Tong. Kwun Tong District Board and its members, past and present, have reflected their views to ex-Governors of Hong Kong and even Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, the present Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region. Mr. Stephen LAU, during his term of office as Urban Councillor, also presented supportive views to this Council on behalf of the Kwun Tong district. The Council agreed with him that a cultural complex had to be built in Kwun Tong. However, due to various reasons, the matter has not been pursued. Nonetheless, Urban Councillors coming from Kwun Tong District, including the former Urban Councillor YEUNG Kam-chun, have never given up fighting for the provision
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