XN000022-1993-03-03 — Page 69

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1993

ALTHOUGH THE CAPITAL INJECTION WILL NOT FORM PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNUAL PROVISION TO CFPA, THE ADVISORY BODY WILL NEVERTHELESS BE ASKED TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE PROPER DISBURSEMENT OF THIS ADDITIONAL FUND.

THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNUAL PROVISION TO THE CFPA BLOCK VOTE IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR OF 1993/94 WILL BE $36.68 MILLION, AN INCREASE BY FOUR PER CENT FROM THE CURRENT YEAR'S PROVISION OF $35.14

NEW

ABOUT MILLION.

OUT OF THIS, HOWEVER, A SUM OF $31 MILLION HAS BEEN FOR THE PROFESSIONAL AND SEMI-PROFESSIONAL GROUPS SUCH AS BALLET, CITY CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY, CHUNG YING THEATRE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL SOCIETY AND EXPLORATION THEATRE.

EARMARKED HONG KONG

COMPANY,

ΤΟ

ΤΟ

THE REMAINING $5.68 MILLION WILL BE LEFT FOR ALLOCATION OTHER BUDDING AND AMATEUR PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS, ON APPLICATION, SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR ACTIVITIES. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS NOT ADEQUATE.

MR SO SAID THIS HAD ALSO LED TO GRIEVANCES AMONG THE PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS AND CRITICISM FROM THE ARTS COMMUNITY THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S SUBVENTION POLICY FOR PERFORMING ARTS ACTIVITIES TENDED TO STIFLE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDING PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS, IN FAVOUR OF THE ESTABLISHED PROFESSIONAL GROUPS.

HE SAID: "IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDY EACH YEAR OR HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR A BUDDING PERFORMING ARTS GROUP TO ATTAIN PROFESSIONAL STATUS.

**THE PRESENT SUBVENTION ARRANGEMENT MEANS THAT THE CFPA IS NOT IN A POSITION TO GUARANTEE A BUDDING PERFORMING ARTS GROUP SUCH AS THE SINFONIETTA HOW MUCH SUBSIDIES IT CAN EXPECT EACH YEAR UNTIL IT REACHES PROFESSIONAL STATUS.

"THIS HAS MADE FORWARD PLANNING FOR THE BUDDING PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS IMPOSSIBLE."

WITH THE INJECTION OF THE ONE-OFF GRANT OF $30 MILLION TOWARDS THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION, THIS WILL ENABLE THE CFPA TO PLAN AHEAD WITH SUCH GROUPS.

THE INTEREST FROM THE $30 MILLION, AND THE MONEY ALREADY RESERVED BY THE CFPA, WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE APPLICATIONS EACH YEAR FROM BUDDING PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS.

"THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS ASSISTING SUCH GROUPS IN HONG KONG TO ATTAIN PROFESSIONAL STATUS, MR SO SAID.

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