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I am impressed by the tremendous progress made by the Academy over the past ten years since its establishment. The Academy now plays a very important role in the local performing arts scene. Today, there is no area of performing arts activity in Hong Kong which is not touched by Academy students, graduates or staff. Looking forward, I am sure that the Academy will continue to make a significant contribution in raising the standard of performing arts in Hong Kong and to be an institution of which we, in Hong Kong, can all be justifiably proud.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to add a special word of appreciation and thanks to Dr Helmut Sohmen OBE who retired from the Chairmanship of the Academy's Council on 31st December 1994. During his eight years' outstanding service, Dr Sohmen led the Academy through a critical period of growth and development to attain its present status as the foremost degree-awarding institution in Southeast Asia for professional education and training in the performing and related technical arts. This is an excellent achievement and provides a sound legacy to Mr Yao Kang, OBE, JP who succeeded Dr Sohmen as Chairman in January 1995. I am sure under Mr Yao's capable chairmanship, the Academy will be moving from strength to strength in the years ahead.

End/Wednesday, January 25, 1995

Disclosure of salaries of LegCo members' assistants

Following is a question by Dr the Hon David Li and a reply by the Acting Chief Secretary, the Hon Michael Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

From January 1, 1995, Executive Councillors must disclose their shareholdings in local companies and their activities in local financial markets. However, such disclosure is made to the Governor only on a confidential basis in order that the rights of Executive Councillors to a reasonable degree of privacy for themselves and their families in respect of their personal finances are not significantly eroded. By contrast, Legislative Councillors are now required to disclose for public inspection, not only the salaries paid to individual staff members but also their identities. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:

a)

of the reason why the erosion of privacy consideration does not apply equally to Legislative Councillors' assistants who are private citizens of the territory, neither appointed nor elected to public office, nor members of the civil service; and