XN000022-1983-05-02 — Page 6

MUDAT, MAY 2, 1983

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HE CONTINUED: +UNLIKE THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION DOES NOT MANAGE FACILITIES, NOR DOES IT ORGANISE CULTURAL EVENTS. ITS PRINCIPAL MEANS OF IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY OBJECTIVES ESTABLISHED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS THROUGH PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN THE TRAINING OR PRESENTATION OF DANCE, MUSIC AND DRAMA.+

+THROUGH SUBVENTING SUCH PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS RATHER THAN GETTING INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PERFORMING ARTS THE PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION'S ROLE IS SUPPORTIVE, RATHER THAN COMPETITIVE.+

+WE FEEL THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT APPROACH, AS THERE 15 NO REASON WHY GOVERNMENT SHOULD DUPLICATE THE SERVICES ALREADY PROVIDED, OR CAPABLE OF BEING PROVIDED, BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.+

+APART FROM MANAGING AND IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES ON PERFORMING ARTS, THE PAD ALSO EXAMINES POSSIBLE AREAS AND FORMS OF FUTURE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.+

ALTHOUGH PAD'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE PERFORMING ARTS IS ONLY INDIRECT, MR TANG POINTED OUT, ITS ACTIVITIES ARE GEARED TOWARDS THE IMPROVEMENT IN HONG KONG'S COMMUNITY SPIRIT.

+IT AIMS TO HELP PEOPLE BECOME INVOLVED IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, BOTH THROUGH SUPPORTING TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMING ACTIVITIES, HE SAID.

SUBVENTED OUTWARD BOUND COURSES

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A SCHEME TO ASSIST DESERVING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WISH TO TAKE PART IN OUTWARD BOUND COURSES WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY).

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM SAID ANY PERSON WHO HAS AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS COULD APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE.

ALSO AT THE CONFERENCE WERE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL, MR JACK TUCKER AND CHIEF RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER, MR DAVID MAK.

THE SCHEME BOT OFF THE GROUND RECENTLY FOLLOWING A GRANT OF $670 000 BY GOVERNMENT.

ABOUT 1 000 YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE HANDICAPPED AND UNDERPRIVILEGED, WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN A NUMBER OF LAND AND SEA-BASED COURSES.

MR WIGGHAM SAID THE AMOUNT GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT IS A RECURRENT GRANT WHICH WOULD BE USED TO REDUCE THE COST OF NORMAL COURSE FEES BY ABOUT 50 PER CENT.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO SUBVENT A NUMBER OF PLACES ON SOME OUTWARD BOUND COURSES WAS DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS.

/+OUTWARD BOUND