XN000022-1993-03-11 — Page 15

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THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1993

WITH

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD, IN CONSULTATION THE CFPA, EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR FUTURE FUNDING FOR ARTS DEVELOPMENT IN THE 1990S, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE LEVEL OF FUNDING REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN EXISTING SERVICES AND NEW COMMITMENTS LIKELY TO ARISE FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ARTS COUNCIL, MR SO SAID.

ON THE FREEDOM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, MR SO SAID THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT POLICY OF ACTING AS A CATALYST TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS HAD TO A LARGE EXTENT HELPED CULTIVATE THE RIGHT SOCIAL AND CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT.

HE SAID: "THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD THEREFORE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A NEUTRAL STAND, LEAVING IT TO THE ARTISTS TO DECIDE HOW BEST THEY SHOULD DEVELOP ARTISTICALLY.

ON ARTS IN EDUCATION, MR SO SAID IT WAS TIMELY то CONSIDER WHETHER THE WORK OF THE MUSIC OFFICE WHICH PROVIDED INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD BETTER BE DONE BY NON-GOVERNMENT SECTORS.

MR SO EXPLAINED THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, MANY NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS HAD BEEN SET UP TO PROVIDE SUCH TRAINING AND RUN MUSIC PROGRAMMES AND MANY PARENTS COULD NOW AFFORD ΤΟ PROVIDE MUSIC TRAINING TO THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH PRIVATE TUITION,

CURRENTLY, MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALSO RUN BY THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS (APA).

THE

"THERE IS A CASE FOR EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSFERRING PART OR ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE MUSIC OFFICE ΤΟ NON-GOVERNMENT SECTOR INCLUDING THE APA, MR SO SAID.

FOLLOWING THE MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME OF CULTURAL VENUES BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS IN THE 19805, MR SO SAID THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR CULTURAL VENUES HAD LARGELY BEEN MET.

"IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS TO GENERALLY PUT A HALT TO THE CULTURAL VENUE BUILDING PROGRAMME, WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID.

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MR SO SAID HONG KONG AT PRESENT HAD A RICH, COLOURFUL AND VARIED CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT, BLENDING AND OFFERING THE BEST OF EAST AND WEST.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS POISED TO TAKE THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN ARTS IN THE PAST DECADE FURTHER IN THE 1990S ON THE BASIS OF THE HEALTHY PARTNERSHIP BUILT UP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, THE ARTISTS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, HE ADDED.

"THE ARTS COMMUNITY WILL BE INVITED TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON RECOMMENDATIONS AND OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE REVIEW AND A REPORT PUBLISHED FOR CONSULTATION WILL BE OUT IN ABOUT 10 DAYS," SO ADDED.

MR

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