XN000022-1988-12-13 — Page 8

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1988

7

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WORKS ON A THREE-TIER SYSTEM, NAMELY, THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS.

"IF TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT EACH OF THESE TIERS IS DOING, WE FIND THAT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ACTING ON THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL FOR PERFORMING ARTS IS ESSENTIALLY SUPPORTING TERRITORY-WIDE ORGANISATIONS,

"IT ALSO OPERATES THROUGH THE MUSIC OFFICE A TERRITORY-WIDE MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND PROVIDES THE BULK OF THE FUNDING FOR THE ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS (APA), HE EXPLAINED.

"THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS ARE HONG KONG'S LARGEST ENTREPRENEURS PROVIDING PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS GROUPS. THEY ALSO MANAGE THE MAJORITY OF THE ARTS FACILITIES IN HONG KONG.

"IN ADDITION, THE URBAN COUNCIL MAINTAINS ITS OWN GROUPS," HE ADDED.

PERFORMING

Mk DALEY SAID THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE SOME FUNDS WITH WHICH TO SUPPORT DISTRICT-BASED ARTS ACTIVITIES.

"I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT MOST DISTRICTS NOW HAD THEIR OWN DISTRICT CHILDREN'S CHOIR AND THAT MOST DISTRICTS HAD A DISTRICT ARTS ASSOCIATI '' 'ICH ENCOURAGED BOTH THE PERFORMING AND THE VISUAL ARTS,' HE SAID.

r

"IN ADDITION TO ALL THESE ACTIVITIES WE SHOULDN'T FORGET THE WORK OF THE SCHOOLS AND THE POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS MEANINGFUL WORK IS BEING CARRIED OUT," HE ADDED.

WITH

WHERE MUCH

"THE RECURRENT COST OF ALL THESE ENDEAVOURS IS SUBSTANTIAL $81 MILLION COMING FROM THE GOVERNMENT ($18 MILLION FOR SUBVENTIONS TO PERFORMING ARTISTS AND ORGANISATIONS; $10 MILLION FOR THE MUSIC OFFICE AND $53 MILLION FOR THE APA), $66 MILLION FROM THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND $2 MILLION FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS EACH FOR 1987/88.

"THIS MAKES A RECURRENT TOTAL OF $149 MILLION FOR 1987/88 WHICH EXCLUDES THE SIGNIFICANT SUM BEING SPENT IN OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, HE EMPHASISED.

"I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE INSIGNIFICANT,

HE SAID.

MR OXLEY ALSO NOTED THAT IN HIS POLICY SPEECH THE GOVERNOR INDICATED THAT HIS FIRM INTENTION WAS THAT THE LEVEL OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED.

"THERE ARE ALSO STRONG INDICATIONS THAT THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE FUNDING AND HUMAN RESOURCES MAKE AVAILABLE FOR THE ARTS.

THEY

/"IT IS