XN000022-1994-04-27 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1994

PLAN ON MUSIC OFFICE'S FUTURE FOR EXCO IN TWO MONTHS

THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS ON WHICH ORGANISATION SHOULD TAKE OVER THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE, CURRENTLY RUN BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH.

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A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT INCLUDING SPECIFIC DETAILS OF SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL WILL BE MADE ONCE A DECISION IS REACHED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES So, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MAN SAI-CHEONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

FOLLOWING THE ARTS POLICY REVIEW CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION TO TRANSFER THE WORK OF THE MUSIC OFFICE TO A NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION AND HAS INVITED A NUMBER OF INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS.

THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS, THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS AND THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMITTED FORMAL PROPOSALS.

"WE ARE CURRENTLY ASSESSING THESE PROPOSALS AND ARE DISCUSSING DETAILS FURTHER WITH THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED, MR SO SAID.

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*ALL THESE PROPOSALS BROADLY MEET THE BASIC CRITERIA WE SET DOWN AS THE BASIS FOR MAKING THE TRANSFER, HE SAID.

THESE CRITERIA ARE:

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THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMMES AT THE PRESENT LEVEL AND IF POSSIBLE TO EXPAND ON THEM;

THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING MUSIC PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AT THE PRESENT LEVEL, AND IF POSSIBLE TO EXPAND ON THEM;

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THE NEED TO RETAIN THE EXISTING REGIONAL MUSIC CENTRES, TO OPEN MORE CENTRES WHEREVER POSSIBLE; AND

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THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A LOW AND AFFORDABLE FEE STRUCTURE BOTH THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND MUSIC INSTRUMENT HIRE SCHEME.

FOR

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MR SO SAID ANY ORGANISATION TAKING OVER THE MUSIC OFFICE IN FUTURE WILL CONTINUE TO RUN IT ALONG THE EXISTING LINES OF THE OFFICE WHOSE AIM IS TO PROMOTE WIDER INTEREST AND APPRECIATION IN MUSIC AMONG THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

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