XN000022-1979-01-06 — Page 3

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1979

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SIR MURRAY WAS FULL OF PRAISE FOR THE ORGANISERS OF THE EVENT, THE NEW TERRITORIES SIX DISTRICTS ART ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION, THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE AND THE TOM LEE MUSIC FOUNDATION LTD.

IN A BRIEF OPENING SPEECH, HE SPOKE OF THE 'ENORMOUS INTEREST'' TODAY IN MUSIC IN HONG KONG, CHINESE AND WESTERN, MODERN AND CLASSICAL. THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE

WAS SET UP A YEAR AGO TO STIMULATE THIS INTEREST AND PROVIDE TRAINING, HE SAID.

+NOW, 1,700 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS ARE TAKING WEEKLY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS AND 400 MUSIC FOR THE MILLIONS CONCERTS ARE BEING ORGANISED EACH YEAR AT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTRES AND FACTOR IES FOR AN AUDIENCE OF HALF-A-MILLION PEOPLE.

+IN ADDITION, FIVE YOUTH ORCHESTRAS ARE REHEARSING REGULARLY AND ARE GIVING PERFORMANCES IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS, SIR MURRAY SAID.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT FOREIGN MUSICIANS PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG WERE, FROM TIME TO TIME, INVITED TO GIVE MASTER-CLASSES TO HELP RAISE LOCAL STANDARDS IN MUSIC.

+BUT OBVIOUSLY WE CANNOT RELY SOLELY ON THE GOVERNMENT, SIR MURRAY SAID. +THERE MUST BE STRONG LOCAL SUPPORT TO ORGANISÉ AND ADMINISTER LOCAL EFFORT AND THIS AFTERNOON IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS NEEDED AND CAN BE ACHIEVED.+

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

+1 AM VERY GLAD TO COME TO THIS OPEN AIR CONCERT ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO SIX DISTRICTS ART ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION, THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, AND THE TOM LEE MUSIC FOUNDATION, AND TO SEE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ENJOYING THEMSELVES.

+THERE IS ENORMOUS INTEREST IN HONG KONG TODAY IN MUSIC, CHINESE AND WESTERN, MODERN AND CLASSICAL AND THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE WAS ÉSTABLISHED ONE YEAR AGO TO STIMULATE THIS INTEREST AND TO PROVIDE TRAINING.

+NOW 1,700 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS ARE TAKING WEEKLY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS AND 400 MUSIC FOR THE MILLIONS CONCERTS ARE BEING ORGANISED EACH YEAR AT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTRES AND FACTORIES FOR AN AUDIENCE OF HALF-A-MILLION PEOPLE.

→IN ADDITION, FIVE YOUTH ORCHESTRAS ARE REHEARSING REGULARLY AND ARE GIVING PERFORMANCES IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS. FOREIGN MUSICIANS PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG ARE ALSO INVITED TO GIVE MASTER-CLASSES TO HELP RAISE LOCAL STANDARDS.

+BUT OBVIOUSLY WE CANNOT RELY SOLELY ON THE GOVERNMENT. THERE MUST BE STRONG LOCAL SUPPORT TO ORGANISE AND ADMINISTER LOCAL EFFORT AND THIS CONCERT THIS AFTERNOON IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS NEEDED AND CAN BE ACHIEVED.

+MAY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF CONGRATULATING THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR MAKING THIS CONCERT POSSIBLE, AND OF EXPRESSING MY BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL FOR A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR,+