XN000022-1992-03-18 — Page 9

8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1992

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE WAS NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR POPULAR MAINSTREAM ACTIVITIES BUT ALSO TO GIVE FULLER SUPPORT AT THE INITIAL STAGES TO EMBRYONIC GROUPS AND NEW TYPES OF ACTIVITY ΤΟ NURTURE THEM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY COULD GAIN ADEQUATE COMMUNITY RECOGNITION.

IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH WILL SPEND A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $256.13 MILLION IN THE PROMOTION OF RECREATION AND SPORTS, PERFORMING ARTS AND PRESERVATION HERITAGE, AS WELL AS MUSIC PROMOTION THROUGH THE MUSIC OFFICE.

MR SO SAID IN ADDITION TO GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, THE COUNCILS HAD ALSO DONE A GREAT DEAL ΤΟ NURTURE THE PRESENTING THE PROGRAMMES OF LOCAL PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL PERFORMING GROUPS AND BY VENUES AND OTHER FACILITIES.

OF

MUNICIPAL ARTS, BY GIVING

PROVIDING

BY

EXPENDITURE BY THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS ON THE PERFORMING ARTS HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

"IN 1987-88, THE URBAN COUNCIL SPENT $142.89 MILLION ON PROGRAMMING, VENUE MANAGEMENT, FUNDING FOR ITS THREE PERFORMING COMPANIES AS WELL AS SUBVENTIONS FOR THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL AND THE HONG KONG FESTIVAL FRINGE. THIS WAS INCREASED TO $311.6 MILLION BY 1991-92,' MR SO SAID.

**

"COMPARABLE FIGURES FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL (WHICH DOES NOT SUBVENT OR FUND PERFORMING GROUPS) ARE $67.11 MILLION AND $140 MILLION RESPECTIVELY, HE ADDED.

TURNING TO PRIVATE SECTOR SPONSORSHIP, MR SO SAID DIRECT COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION FACILITATED THE MOST DIRECT REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY'S PREFERENCES.

HE SAID THE COUNCIL FOR PERFORMING ARTS' MATCHING GRANT SCHEME ATTRACTED NEARLY $2 MILLION

IN SPONSORSHIP OF THE ARTS FROM THE BUSINESS SECTOR, THREE TIMES MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

GENEROUS

"THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB IS ALSO A MOST BENEFACTOR. WE HAVE THE JOCKEY CLUB TO THANK FOR MANY HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROJECTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS, MR SO SAID.

"

DURING THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, THE CLUB WILL BE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE CHING SHU HIU HOSTEL IN PING SHAN.

PROVIDING SCHOLARS'

THE JOCKEY CLUB ALSO PROVIDES SIZEABLE GRANTS EACH YEAR TO VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

DURING 1991-92, THE JOCKEY CLUB MADE AVAILABLE 31.5 MILLION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROJECTS THROUGH THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND FOR THE PROMOTION OF MUSIC AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO $2.4 MILLION IN 1992-93.

IN SPORTS, THE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD LAST YEAR RECEIVED SPONSORSHIP PLEDGES TOTALLING ABOUT $12 MILLION.

/MR SQ