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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1985
+ THE PLATFORM WAS INTRODUCED ONLY TWO MONTHS AGO AND IT IS HOPED THAT IT WILL BECOME A VALUABLE SETTING FOR OUR ASPIRING YOUNG PERFORMERS TO IMPROVE THEIR TALENT BY PERFORMING OFTENER BEFORE AN AUDIENCE.+
MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID ONE OF THE BEST METHODS TO PROMOTE THE ARTS AND CULTURE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WAS THROUGH FESTIVALS. THUS, THE COUNCIL ORGANISED NUMEROUS FESTIVALS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL IN SUMMER AND THE FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS.
+THE COUNCIL INTRODUCED IN MAY THIS YEAR A PILOT SCHEME OF OFFERING HALF-PRICE TICKETS FOR SELECTED URBAN COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS ON THE DAY OF PERFORMANCES WITH A VIEW OF MAKING THE COUNCIL'S CULTURAL PRESENTATIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.+
TURNING TO THE NEWLY-ESTABLISHED HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID: +WITH THE OPENING OF ACADEMY, THE FIRST TERTIARY EDUCATION CENTRE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA BUILT ESPECIALLY FOR TEACHING DANCE, DRAMA, MUSIC AND TECHNICAL ARTS, HONG KONG'S CULTURAL LIFE WILL BE FURTHER ENRICHED.+
+WHILE THE ACADEMY'S ROLE IS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, THE COUNCIL'S POLICY IS TO MAKE THE PERFORMING ARTS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC BY ORGANISING PERSENTATIONS OF WESTERN AND EASTERN MUSIC, OPERA, DRAMA, DANCE, FILMS AND OTHER PERFORMING ARTS BY LOCAL AND OVERSEAS ARTISTS AT COUNCIL VENUES.
+THE ACADEMY AND THE COUNCIL WILL BE PLAYING COMPLEMENTARY ROLES IN DEVELOPING LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE.+
IN CONCLUSION, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID: IT CAN THUS BE SEEN THAT THE URBAN COUNCIL IS PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN MAKING HONG KONG INTO A CITY OF FESTIVALS, WHICH NOT ONLY GIVES SUPPORT TO OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO PROVIDES MORE FUN, ENTERTAINMENT AND A BETTER LIFE-STYLE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+