XN000022-1979-11-28 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1979

NEW OFFICE TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

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A NEW DIVISION WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH UNDER THE PROPOSED REORGANISATION BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE AND CO-ORDINATE CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ALEX WU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI SAID THE RESTRUCTURING IS AIMED AT IMPROVING CO-ORDINATION, PLANNING, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SHORTENING THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE POLICY BRANCH AND THE EXECUTIVE ARMS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMOTING SUCH ACTIVITIES.

THE NEW DIVISION WILL BE HEADED BY AN OFFICER AT THE DEPUTY SECRETARY LEVEL AND WILL REQUIRE A SMALL ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT SERVICES.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW DIVISION DOES NOT HAVE IMMEDIATE POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND ITS FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS WILL SHORTLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL.

+HOWEVER, IT IS ENVISAGED THAT,

IT IS ENVISAGED THAT, BY BRINGING TOGETHER ALL POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CULTURE AND RECREATION AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE CONTROL OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AND THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PURSUE OUR POLICIES EVEN MORE VIGOROUSLY THAN HITHERTO, MR. LI SAID.

+THIS NEW DIVISION WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR STEERING THE PROGRAMME PLAN FOR THE LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH MUSIC AND THE PERFORMING ARTS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN MAY OF COURSE INVOLVE NEW POLICIES AND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS ARISING THEREFROM WILL BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN A SEPARATE CHAPTER OF THE PLAN, HE ADDED.

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