THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1982
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DUCHESS LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR ARTS ACADEMY
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HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF KENT TODAY (THURSDAY) LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS WHICH IS BEING BUILT ON A 23 000-SQUARE METRE SITE ADJACENT TO THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE IN HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI,
THE ACADEMY IS THE FIRST CENTRE TO BE BUILT IN HONG KONG FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. IT WILL BE OPERATIONAL DURING THE 1985 SCHOLASTIC YEAR AND WILL HOUSE FOUR MAJOR SCHOOLS: MUSIC, DANCE, ACTING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES, TOGETHER WITH THEATRES AND STUDIOS.
IN A SPEECH AT THE FOUNDATION STONE-LAYING CEREMONY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACADEMY'S PROJECT BOARD, MR LI FOOK-WO SAID: +WE ARE MOST HONOURED BY YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS'S PRESENCE TODAY, NOT LEAST BECAUSE WE KNOW YOUR PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.+
MR LI SAID THE ACADEMY WOULD MAKE A VITAL CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG'S CULTURAL LIFE BY PROVIDING VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS -- PRODUCING PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND TEACHERS IN MUSIC, DANCE AND DRAMA AND EXPERTS IN THE AREA OF TECHNICAL SERVICES.
+BY RAISING HONG KONG'S OWN PERFORMERS AND TEACHERS, THE ACADEMY WILL ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF ARTISTIC TALENT AND COMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMME OF CULTURAL COMPLEXES BEING BUILT AROUND THE TERRITORY.
HE ADDED THAT THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE PROJECT HAD BEEN REALISED REFLECTED THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS IN HONG KONG AND THE IMPORTANCE PLACED TODAY ON THE NEED TO NURTURE AND TRAIN YOUNG PERFORMERS OF TOMORROW.
MR LI SAID THE ACADEMY WOULD BE BUILT BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AS A PROJECT TO MARK ITS CENTENARY IN 1984 AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED TO MEET ITS RUNNING COSTS.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LADY YOUDE, AND MR LI, MET INFORMALLY SOME OF THE PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH THE PROJECT, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT BOARD.
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