XN000022-1996-05-29 — Page 33

16

-

Funds allocation by Arts Development Council

Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Wong and a reply by the acting Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Mrs Rita Lau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council what mechanism is put in place to monitor the allocation of funds by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council?

Reply:

The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) is a statutory body set up under its own Ordinance on 1 June 1995. Under Section 5 of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Ordinance (the Ordinance), the ADC is empowered to formulate and implement proposals in regard to the promotion and broad development of the arts, and to disburse grants to organisations and individuals for the planning, development and promotion of the arts in any way it considers appropriate.

As an independent statutory body, with almost half of its members nominated by the arts community, and having its own employed staff, the ADC enjoys a high degree of autonomy in determining how its funds should be used to meet the needs of the development of the arts.

The Government monitors the work of the ADC through the following means:

(a)

(b)

The Secretary for Recreation & Culture is an ex-officio member of the ADC; and he or his representative attends all meetings of the ADC. Members of the Recreation & Culture Branch also participate in the work of the ADC through their membership of the three boards under the ADC, i.e. the Strategic Development Board, the Resource Management Board and the Artform Board.

Section 11 of the Ordinance requires the ADC to submit to the Government a programme of its proposed activities and estimates of its income and expenditure.