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Jockey Club $3.7M donation for arts groups accommodation
Eight local arts groups will shortly be housed under one roof following a donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
At a ceremony this (Tuesday) morning, Mr John Markwell, representing the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, presented a cheque for $3.7 million to the Commissioner for Recreation and Culture, Mrs Rachel Cartland, who received it on behalf of the Government.
The sum will enable the Government to renovate a vacant school building in Shek Lei Estate, Kwai Chung, for use by the eight arts groups. They are the Actors' Family, Hong Kong Artists' House, Hong Kong Dance Federation, Hong Kong Festival Fringe, Hong Kong Movie and TV Theatrical Society, Musical Company, Theatre Resolu and the Hong Kong Youth Arts Festival Society.
Mrs Cartland noted that in line with its policy of supporting arts development, the Government as and when it could provided temporary and surplus Government accommodation for local arts groups at nominal rent.
"However, finding suitable accommodation is always a major headache for arts groups," she said. "We hope that with this worry removed, these groups will become even more creative and make an even bigger contribution to the lives of people in our community.
"We also believe that the different groups will enjoy the interaction arising from being housed together, that Shek Lei Estate will be brightened up by renovation of an unused building and that local residents may be encouraged to participate in arts activities," she added.
The vacant school has a total floor space of 1,500 square metres. It has been identified by the Government as suitable for housing arts groups provided it is upgraded to an acceptable standard.
Renovation works on the building will start soon and will take a few months to
complete.
End/Tuesday, May 9, 1995