XN000022-1988-10-12 — Page 61

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1988

SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS ALSO TIME то TAKE STOCK AND TO MAKE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE IN THE FIELDS OF RECREATION AND SPORT.

THAT

A CONSULTANCY

POINTING OUT

REVIEW OF SPORTS ADMINISTRATION WAS PUBLISHED IN MAY, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS STUDYING THE PROPOSALS IN THE LIGHT OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THEY HAD GENERATED.

HE SAID IT WAS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY то MAXIMISE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

"WE AIM ALSO то ENSURE THAT PERFORMANCES OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO WATCH THEM.

"THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE ATTACH TO THESE AIMS IS SHOWN BY THE CREATION OF THE NEW POLICY BRANCH TO WHICH I HAVE ALREADY REFERRED.'

II

SIR DAVID SAID THE NEW POLICY BRANCH TO BE CREATED WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, WHICH MADE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION BOTH TO THE ARTS AND TO THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS.

"I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT THIS CONTRIBUTION HAS RECENTLY BEEN EXTENDED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL TAKING ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC, A MOVE WHICH WILL ENSURE THE ORCHESTRA'S FUTURE.

SIR DAVID ALSO NOTED THAT MORE THAN 21,000 SEATS IN AND CONCERT HALLS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE WITH THE OPENING HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE AT THE END OF 1989.

"THIS IS MORE THAN FIVE TIMES THE NUMBER AVAILABLE IN RATE OF GROWTH PROBABLY UNMATCHED ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

FINANCIAL

THEATRES OF THE

1978, A

"WE MUST NOW ENSURE THAT THESE SEATS ARE FILLED. THIS MEANS ORGANISING HIGH QUALITY PERFORMANCES BY BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS ARTISTS."

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE SOME OF THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS ΤΟ INCREASE THE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR THE ARTS IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.

"BUT IT IS WRONG FOR PERFORMING GROUPS TO RELY TOO HEAVILY, TOO COMPLETELY, ON PUBLIC FUNDS, HE SAID.

"

OR

"WE THEREFORE AIM TO ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR то INCREASE ITS SPONSORSHIP OF THE ARTS.

1

THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS WAS BEING ASKED TO PUT FORWARD FROPOSALS TO ACHIEVE THIS, DRAWING ON EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE PRIVATE FUNDING FOR THE ART'S HAD PROVED REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL, SIR DAVID ADDED.

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