XN000022-1977-11-10 — Page 19

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1977

TRAINING SCHEMES FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS COME FIRST

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THERE MIGHT BE A NEED FOR ESTABLISHING AN ACADEMY OF THE ARTS IN HONG KONG IN FUTURE AND +THIS SHOULD BE OUR LONG-TERM AIM+.

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+BUT THE IMMEDIATE TASK BEFORE US IS TO PUSH AHEAD WITH THE VARIOUS TRAINING SCHEMES ON MUSIC AN AREA WHERE THERE IS WIDE AND ESTABLISHED INTEREST AND WHERE TALENT IS NOT LACKING,+ HE SAID DURING THE RESUMED ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE.

MR. LI WAS ANSWERING TO SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SETTING UP OF AN ACADEMY OF ARTS MADE BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TWO WEEKS AGO.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY MADE A START IN PROVIDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND FACILITIES FOR OUR YOUNG MUSICIANS, BUT THE DEMAND AND INTEREST IN THE OTHER PERFORMING ARTS WERE NOT QUITE SO EVIDENT+.

+ IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO TACKLE FIRST THINGS FIRST,+ HE REMARKED.

MR. LI EARLIER OUTLINED WHAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WERE DOING IN PROMOTING CULTURE AND ARTS EY LISTING THE VARIOUS ACTIONS ALREADY TAKEN TOWARDS THIS END.

YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION MENTIONED THAT A MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR AND A MUSIC CONSULTANT HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO WORK OUT A SCHEME TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS OF HONG KONG'S YOUNG MUSICIANS.

MR. LI TODAY REVEALED THAT THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB HAD GENEROUSLY PLEDGED A DONATION TO SET UP A MUSIC FUND.

HE WELCOMED THIS TIMELY DONATION WHICH WILL BOOST THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS IN DEVELOPING A GREATER APPRECIATION AND WIDER PARTICIPATION IN MUSIC AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND IN OFFERING BETTER AND INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG MUSICIANS TO RECEIVE PROPER TRAINING WHETHER LOCALLY OR ABROAD.

THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO MAKE BETTER TRAINING FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IS NOT CONFINED TO THE INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING SCHEME IN SCHOOLS.

RECENTLY, MR. LI NOTED, A SUBSTANTIAL GRANT HAS BEEN MADE TO THE HONG KONG CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC FROM A SPECIAL FUND, ESTABLISHED BY AN ANONYMOUS DONOR, TO ENABLE THIS VOLUNTARY CRGANISATION TO SET ITSELF UP IN THE ARTS CENTRE.+

COMMENTING ON THE UNOFFICIALS PROPOSAL TO UNIFY UNDER ONE UMBRELLA THE PERSONAL SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, MR. LI RECALLED THE PROBLEMS RELATING TO THIS SUGGESTION WERE FULLY EXPLAINED BY HIS PREDECESSOR IN THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR.

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