WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993
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GOVT DETERMINED TO MAKE ARTS A WAY OF LIFE
THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO MAKE ARTS NOT ONLY THE PRESERVE OF THE ARTS PRACTITIONERS AND THE WELL-TO-DO BUT ALSO INCREASINGLY то HAVE IT ACCEPTED AS A WAY OF LIFE FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES So, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING
AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR SO SAID HE BELIEVED THIS WAS WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED.
IN
HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD WASTED NO TIME GETTING TO WORK ON THE SETTING UP OF THE PROVISIONAL ARTS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS.
A WORKING GROUP WAS APPOINTED ON OCTOBER 8 UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SIR JOSEPH HOTUNG TO PREPARE FOR THE FORMATION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL.
"SO FAR, THE WORKING GROUP HAS HELD TWO MEETINGS AND HAS SET UP FIVE SPECIALIST COMMITTEES ON POLICY, LEGISLATION, MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE, TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND COMMUNITY LIAISON TO GET ON WITH THE TASK, HE SAID.
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"THE WORKING GROUP HAS ALSO TAKEN STEPS TO SET UP ITS OWN SECRETARIAT BY ADVERTISING TO RECRUIT AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AND SUPPORTING STAFF," HE ADDED.
DEBATE, A FEW MEMBERS COUNCIL (ADC) TO HAVE OF PROFESSIONAL ARTS
THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT DURING THE HAD PROPOSED FOR THE FUTURE ARTS DEVELOPMENT A BROAD BASE REPRESENTATION, MADE UP PRIMARILY PRACTITIONERS, WITH INDEPENDENT POLICY MAKING POWER.
HE
SAID HE GENERALLY SHARES THESE VIEWS AND IS SURE THAT THE WORKING GROUP WILL TAKE THEM ON BOARD WHEN DRAWING UP RECOMMENDATIONS ON MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES FOR THE FUTURE ADC AND IT'S TERMS OF
REFERENCE.
REFERRING то CRITICISM THAT THE VISUAL ART IS NOT DIRECTLY REPRESENTED IN THE WORKING GROUP, MR SO SAID A PRACTISING VISUAL ARTIST WOULD SOON JOIN THE GROUP.
ON THE QUESTION OF FUNDING, THE SECRETARY NOTED ONE MEMBER'S REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE REMIT OF THE $100 MILLION GRANT PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE REMIT OF THIS GRANT WILL BE SPELT OUT WHEN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL IS APPROACHED ΤΟ APPROVE THE ALLOCATION OF THIS MONEY, MR SO SAID.
"IN THE MEANTIME, I SHALL HAVE TO CONSULT THE WORKING GROUP FOR ITS VIEWS ON HOW THIS GRANT SHOULD BEST BE USED TO PROMOTE AND DEVELOP THE ARTS IN THE YEARS AHEAD, HE ADDED.
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MR SO ALSO SAID HE CONSIDERED IT ESSENTIAL FOR THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO CONTINUE TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE ARTS.
/TURNING TO