XN000022-1984-06-13 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984

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+THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH AND THE LOCALISATION OF OUR PERFORMING GROUPS AND COMPANIES, + MR WU SAID.

+THE ACADEMY THEREFORE MERITS EQUAL ATTENTION AND SUPPORT AS THAT GIVEN TO INSTITUTIONS WHICH TRAIN PROFESSIONALS FOR OTHER SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, +

HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF BALLET AND THE HONG KONG CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC WERE BEING SUBSUMED BY THE ACADEMY, THUS ENSURING THE ENDEAVOURS OF ALL THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE TWO BODIES WOULD BE CONTINUED.

MR WU EXTENDED THANKS TO ALL WHO HAD GIVEN SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL TOWARDS MAKING THE ACADEMY A REALITY.+

ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, DR HON HO KAM-FAI SAID THE ACADEMY WAS A WITNESS TO GOVERNMENT'S POLICY INTEREST IN ARTS BY PROVIDING FACILITIES AND FINANCIAL SUBSIDIES TO A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ARTS ACTIVITIES.

+1 NOTE WITH PRIDE THAT HONG KONG HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A CULTURAL LEADER IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION, HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE PROPOSED ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS WOULD ENHANCE THE STATUS OF HONG KONG AS A CULTURAL CENTRE IN ASIA.

HE ADVOCATED THAT THE ACADEMY SHOULD ADOPT A LIBERAL EDUCATION POLICY TO MAXIMISE ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS.

HE SUGGESTED THAT ALONGSIDE THE CURRICULUM CONSTRUCTED FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS GIFTED IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, A SET OF SPECIAL PROGRAMMES, CONTAINING PART-TIME AND REFRESHER COURSES, MUST BE DESIGNED TO UPGRADE THE LEVEL OF SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIOUS LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS ORGANISATIONS.

+AN ACTIVE LINK AND CONSULTATIONS WITH MAJOR ARTS INSTITUTIONS OVERSEAS MUST BE MAINTAINED AS A MEANS TO KEEP OUR PERFORMING ARTS IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL TREND AND STANDARDS, HE SAID.

HON MRS SEL INA CHOW SAID THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACADEMY WAS IN ANSWER TO PRESENT DEMAND AND IN ANTICIPATION OF THE RAPID GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.

+APART FROM CATERING TO THE ASPIRATIONS AND TALENT OF OUR YOUNG ARTISTS TO BECOME PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS IN MUSIC, ACTING, DANCE IT AIMS ALSO TO TRAIN DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS, DESIGNERS, COMPOSERS AND DRAMATISTS WHO ARE THE OFF STAGE ARTISTS, LESS VISIBLE BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO THE PERFORMANCE, SHE SAID.

SHE BELIEVED THIS WOULD ACHIEVE THE DESIRABLE EFFECT OF OFFERING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES NOT ACCORDING TO WHO COULD BEST AFFORD THEM BUT TO THOSE WHOSE TALENTS WERE MORE DESERVING.

/SHE MENTIONED