XN000022-1980-05-31 — Page 6

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1980

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$40 000 FOR SHA TIN CHILDREN'S CHOIR

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SHA TIN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD HAS ALLOCATED $40 000 TO ITS CHILDREN'S CHOIR FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

THE BOARD'S ARTS SUB-COMMITTEE AGREED THIS SUM, TO PAY INSTRUCTORS AND TO COVER THE COST OF HOLDING CONCERTS, AT A RECENT MEETING.

THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD IS $536 000 FOR 1980/81.

THE CHOIR, FORMED SIX MONTHS AGO, WILL GIVE ITS SECOND PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AT THE OPENING OF SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES IN SHA TIN IN JULY,

MORE THAN 300 GUESTS, INCLUDING SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS, WILL ATTEND THE OPENING IN WO CHE COMMUNITY HALL.

THE CHOIR MADE ITS DEBUT AT A ONE-HOUR CONCERT IN MARCH.

CHAIRMAN OF THE CHOIR'S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR WONG PO-MING, SAID THE CHOIR WAS ALREADY SELECTING CHINESE AND ENGLISH SONGS IT WOULD SING AT THIS CONCERT.

THE COMMITTEE, JOINTLY WITH THE MUSIC OFFICE, IS ALSO ORGANISING A MAJOR CONCERT TO BE HELD BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

MR WONG SAID THE COMMITTEE WAS PLANNING TO GIVE MORE PERFORMANCES SO THAT THE CHILDREN COULD GAIN EXPERIENCE.

HE SAID ATTENDANCE AT TRAINING SESSIONS HELD EVERY SATURDAY SINCE LAST NOVEMBER HAD BEEN EXCELLENT. THESE WERE RUN BY THREE INSTRUCTORS, ONE OF WHOM IS FROM THE MUSIC OFFICE.

THE CHOIR HAS 67 CHILDREN, AGED BETWEEN SEVEN AND 10, WHO LIVE OR STUDY IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN. THEY WERE SELECTED FROM 170 APPLICANTS DURING A RECRUITMENT EXERCISE LAST SEPTEMBER.

IT WAS FORMED BY SHA TIN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MUSIC OFFICE, AS PART OF A PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES LOCALLY.

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