WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984
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SHE MENTIONED THAT AT FIRST SHE HAD CONSIDERED THE PROPOSED ANNUAL FEE PER PERSON OF HK$5 000 TO BE ON THE HIGH SIDE.
HOWEVER, I AM PERSUADED THAT IT IS REASONABLE SINCE, COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, A STUDENT AT THE ACADEMY REQUIRES MORE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION THAN HIS COUNTERPART IN OTHER POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS.
+ IN ADDITION I HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE TO THE TALENTED YOUNGSTERS WHO ARE FINANCIALLY IN NEED OF SUCH ASSISTANCE,+ SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN SAID ALSO THAT THROUGH RELENTLESS EFFORTS BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE PERFORMING ARTS SCENE HAD GONE THROUGH A METAMORPHOSIS SO STUNNING THAT HONG KONG WAS NOW COMPARABLE TO ANY OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITIES MAINTAINED.
+VERY FEW CITIES IN THE WORLD CAN BOAST OF THE EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF ARTS FESTIVALS UNDERTAKEN ON THE CENTRAL, REGIONAL AS WELL AS DISTRICT LEVEL AS WE DO,+ MRS CHOW SAID.
MOVING THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL, THE HON DENIS BRAY, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, SAID 1 400 ENQUIRIES HAD ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED FOR THE 70 VACANCIES IN THE ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
MR BRAY SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME COMMENT ABOUT THE COST OF RUNNING THE COURSES IN THE ACADEMY.
+THEY WILL BE HIGH BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE THAT DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES DO INVOLVE DIFFERENT COSTS IN TRAINING.
+ THE SIZE OF THE ACADEMY IS MODEST. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT THERE WILL BE SOME COMPETITION FOR ENTRY. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS IMMENSE TALENT IN HONG KONG.
+ IT WOULD DO LESS THAN JUSTICE TO THESE GIFTED YOUNG PEOPLE TO FAIL TO BRING OUT THEIR BEST AND BRING THEM UP TO WORLD STANDARDS. THIS WE AIM TO DO,+ MR BRAY SAID.
REFERRING AGAIN TO THE COST OF FEES, MR BRAY SAID THAT USUAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD IT.
HE ALSO GAVE ASSURANCE THAT IT WAS THE INTENTION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL THAT EQUAL EMPHASIS BE GIVEN TO EASTERN AND WESTERN ART FORMS.
MR BRAY SAID THAT IT WAS JUST THREE YEARS AGO THAT A SUGGESTION BY THE JOCKEY CLUB THAT IT WOULD BE PREPARED TO FUND SUCH AN ACADEMY WAS ACCEPTED, AND THE ACADEMY WAS NOW ALREADY TAKING IN THE FIRST STUDENTS FOR SEPTEMBER.
HE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THE WARM WELCOME GIVEN TO THE ACADEMY BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
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