WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1993
1
ARTS POLICY REVIEW REPORT REALISTIC AND ACHIEVABLE
*
THE GOVERNMENT HAS REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARTS IN HONG KONG IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
PROMOTION
REPORT,
TO THIS END, IT HAS PROPOSED IN THE ARTS POLICY REVIEW WHICH IS NOW UNDER PUBLIC CONSULTATION, TO ADOPT A PRAGMATIC AND PRACTICAL APPROACH AND TO SET POLICY OBJECTIVES THAT ARE REALISTIC AND ACHIEVABLE.
SPEAKING DURING THE MOTION DEBATE ON ARTS POLICY REVIEW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, REFUTED MEMBERS' CRITICISM OVER THE LACK OF FORWARD LOOKING POLICY OBJECTIVES IN THE REPORT.
"THE REPORT ONLY AIMS TO REVIEW THE PRESENT POSITION AND TRY TO SET OUT GOVERNMENT'S FUTURE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS IN HONG KONG, HAVING REGARD TO CERTAIN FACTORS,' HE EXPLAINED.
"IN
DOING THIS, I CONSIDER IT PRUDENT TO TAKE A PRAGMATIC AND PRACTICAL LINE," HE ADDED.
MR SO SAID THE REPORT ALSO RIGHTLY AIMED TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT HONG KONG HAD ACHIEVED IN THE PAST DECADE, AND TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT PRACTICAL NEXT STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN IN MAPPING OUT THE WAY FORWARD, RATHER THAN TO PROPOSE CHANGES LIGHTLY TO THE WELL-TRIED AND SMOOTH WORKING PARTNERSHIP THAT HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE EXISTING ARTS INSTITUTIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT.
EVEN IN ADOPTING THIS PRUDENT AND PRACTICAL APPROACH, HE POINTED OUT, THE GOVERNMENT HAD A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT NEW INITIATIVES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO DEVELOP THE ARTS IN HONG KONG IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
"WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST POLICY IS TO MOVE AHEAD ONE STEP AT A ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THE OBJECTIVES WE SET FOR OURSELVES ARE NOT UNREALISTIC AND ARE ACHIEVABLE.
TIME,
"THUS THE PROPOSED POLICY OBJECTIVES FOR THE FUTURE, AS SET OUT IN CHAPTER 7, ARE VERY CLEAR AND POSITIVE AND ARE IN NO WAY LACKING IN FORWARD VISION, HE STRESSED.
TURNING THE SECRETARY PRESENT STAGE
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TO THE LACK OF IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS IN. THE REPORT, SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE DONE AT THE AS "THIS WOULD ONLY LEAD TO A RIGID AND STEREOTYPE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS".
THE
HE FELT THAT THE BEST APPROACH AND ONE WHICH WOULD RESULT IN BEST ACHIEVEMENT WAS TO ALLOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S BROAD POLICY OBJECTIVES TO EVOLVE IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE AND CHANGING SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND ARTISTIC TRENDS.
"THIS
IS WHERE THE PROPOSED ARTS COUNCIL CAN PLAY A PROMINENT AND PIVOTAL ROLE IN ITS CO-ORDINATION AND ADVISORY WORK.
"INDEED, THIS IS THE APPROACH ADOPTED BY THE IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY LAID DOWN IN 1981 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS IN HONG KONG."
GOVERNMENT IN PROMOTION
AND
/MR SO