XN000022-1977-10-23 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1977

MUSIC FUND SET UP WITH DONATIONS FROM JOCKEY CLUB

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A FUND TO DEVELOP MUSICAL SKILLS AND INTEREST AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN SET UP WITH MONEY DONATED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.

THE CLUB IS PROVIDING THREE SUCCESSIVE ANNUAL GRANTS OF $600,000 TO PROVIDE WORKING CAPITAL AND WILL LATER DONATE A FURTHER $10 MILLION TO ESTABLISH A TRUST FUND.

CUSTODIAN OF THE FUND WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, WHILE THE NEWLY SET UP MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE WILL ADMINISTER IT. THE OFFICE WILL SCRUTINIZE APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS BEFORE SUBMITTING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO A VETTING COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BE APPOINTED SHORTLY.

ANNOUNCING THE SETTING UP OF THE FUND, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID: THE VERY GENEROUS DONATIONS OF THE JOCKEY CLUB WILL GIVE NEW IMPETUS TO ENCOURAGING IMPROVED MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSICAL APPRECIATION IN HONG KONG.

+THIS IS VERY TIMELY AND THE JOCKEY CLUB'S BOLD AND IMAGINATIVE RESPONSE TO THIS NEED AUGMENTS THE GOVERNMENT'S WORK IN DEVELOPING MUSIC TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, HE ADDED.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE JOCKEY CLUB'S DONATIONS WILL GIVE MORE SCOPE FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, IN ESTABLISHING YOUTH ORCHESTRAS, ARRANGING EXCHANGE VISITS FOR YOUTH ORCHESTRAS, PROVIDING FURTHER TRAINING FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS, ORGANISING INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AND PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT OF MUSIC ACTIVITY,

DETAILS OF THE CRITERIA FOR GRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER.

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