XN000022-1986-11-06 — Page 38

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1986

+AT PRESENT THERE IS AN INDICATION OF TOO GREAT A RELIANCE ON PUBLIC FUNDING, SHE SAID.

+ IF WE EXCLUDE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB. ONLY SOME THREE PER CENT OF THE FUNDING OF THE ARTS COMES FROM PRIVATE SECTORS. I THINK THE CUSHIONING PROVIDED BY PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP IS TOO THIN.

+IN ALL RESPECTS, PUBLIC FUNDING SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS AN EXCLUSIVE SOURCE OF INCOME. TO ENSURE FREEDOM OF ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO REFLECT COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SPONSORSHIP HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.+

MRS WONG SAID THE PROPOSED ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE FORMED ALONG THE LINES OF ORGANISATIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND AUSTRALIA.

SHE SAID SUCH AN ORGANISATION COULD PROVIDE A SERVICE TO POTENTIAL SPONSORS BY SEEKING EVENTS FOR THEM. IT COULD ALSO ACT AS A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION FOR BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS WITH ARTS BODIES AND GROUPS.

+COULD I SUGGEST THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BE THE DRIVING FORCE IN THIS VENTURE. IF IT THINKS THE FORMATION OF SUCH AN ASSOCIATION WOULD BE USEFUL, I AM SURE THE COUNCIL FOR PERFORMING ARTS (CFPA) WOULD EXPLORE WAYS OF GETTING IT UP AND RUNNING.

+IN SHARING WITH YOU THE ABOVE THOUGHTS 1 MUST ALSO MENTION THE FACT THAT THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH (MSB) IS CURRENTLY CONSULTING THE CFPA, THE GOVERNMENT'S ADVISORY BODY, ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY, I AM CONFIDENT THAT CFPA WILL ADD TO THE IDEAS AND SEEK THE VIEWS OF INTERESTED PARTIES INVOLVED.+

MRS WONG, WHO SPOKE IN HER CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, SAID SHE FELT THAT IN THE FIELD OF THE ARTS, +WE SHOULD ALL WORK QUIETLY AHEAD, BUT IN THE MATTER OF EVOLVING A POLICY, WE SHOULD GIVE THE AREA THE WIDEST POSSIBLE CONSULTATION.+

TO ASSIST IN LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF ENCOURAGING FREEDOM OF DEVELOPMENT, MRS WONG SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO EVOLVE A FUNDING POLICY.

SHE SAID FUNDING OF PERFORMING ARTS, AS SHE SAW IT, WAS PRINCIPALLY TO ASSIST THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL GROUPS AND ARTISTS, AND ALSO TO PROMOTE APPRECIATION OF, AND ACCESSIBILITY TO, THE PERFORMING ARTS.

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