XN000022-1983-10-17 — Page 6

MONDAY, OCT^ER 17, 1983

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ARTS ACADEMY WILL HELP BRING OUT TALENT: BRAY

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THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS, WHICH WILL BE READY IN 1985. IS DESTINED TO BECOME NOT ONLY A MAJOR ADDITION TO HONG KONG'S CULTURAL LIFE, BUT ALSO TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF TEACHING CENTRES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID THIS (MONDAY) EVENING.

SPEAKING AT A DINNER MEETING OF THE THIRD CONFERENCE OF COMMONWEALTH ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, MR BRAY SAID THE AIM WAS TO GIVE TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP THEIR ARTISTIC POTENTIAL, AND TO EQUIP THEM WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO ENTER THE WORLD OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AS PROFESSIONALS.+

MR BRAY SAID THAT ONE OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE ACADEMY WOULD BE THAT WESTERN AND CHINESE ARTS FORMS WOULD BE TAUGHT THERE WITH EQUAL EMPHASIS.

MR BRAY SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSIC, DRAMA AND DANCE HAD ALL BENEFITED FROM POSITIVE SUPPORT FROM ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT.

+THIS SUPPORT CAN BE SEEN NOT ONLY AS A PROOF OF OUR BELIEF IN THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO AS AN INDICATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY BUILDING, HE SAID.

THE ARTS BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND HONG KONG HAD SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT HEARTS AND MINDS TOGETHER THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WIDE RANGE OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.

+ART CANNOT BE CREATED BY GOVERNMENT FIAT NOR CAN GENUINE ART BE SUBORNED TO SERVE STATE PROPAGANDA FOR IT THEN CEASES TO HAVE REAL MEANING.

+THE TRADITION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE ARTS IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED IN THE COMMONWEALTH BUT IS NOT FOUND EVERYWHERE,+ MR BRAY SAID.

+WE ARE FORTUNATE TO ENJOY IT IN HONG KONG, HE ADDED.

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SURVEY OF TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS COMPLETED

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED A SURVEY ON WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS.

THE SURVEY COLLECTED DATA RELATING TO THE YEAR 1981 AND WAS THE THIRD ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP ENQUIRY AFTER THE BENCHMARK CENSUS FOR 1977.

NUMBER DATA COLLECTED IN THE SURVEY INCLUDED TYPE OF OWNERSHIP OF PERSONS ENGAGED, COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES, OPERATING EXPENSES, PURCHASES OF GOODS FOR SALE, STOCK, SALES AND OTHER RECEIPTS, AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

VODI.