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that the project must take its proper place in the context of the other considerable projects of different kinds facing Government-several of which have emanated from this Council: notably the Indoor Stadium, a large outdoor Football Stadium, a number of swimming pool com- plexes and the provision of more public libraries.

Mr. SALES also made reference to the success of the continued and expanding programme of concerts of music directly sponsored by this Council. These started modestly as military band concerts but, by controlled development, they have now reached the stage that, whereas in 1962, 12 military band concerts were presented, in the current year, it is expected that 44 performances of classical music will have been given under direct Council's sponsorship-from solo recitals to full orchestral concerts. This number is expected to rise again next year. I think Members would wish me publicly to acknowl- edge, on their behalf, the help given by various organizations and societies in Hong Kong who have co-operated with the City Hall management and the Council in the presentation of many of these performances. I should also like to emphasize that a very large proportion of the audience at each of these performances is made up of young people, and there can be no doubt that, in providing these with an opportunity to attend live concerts of fine music at prices which are within their reach, the Urban Council is fulfilling an extremely valuable social and cultural role. The success of this venture quite appropriately has prompted the City Hall management into an examination of the feasibility of further development, and papers are in preparation for consideration initially by the City Hall Select Committee.

One of the most important matters to be raised, and which was referred to by Mr. SALES in his speech as "an Urban Council symphony orchestra" (not to be confused with another suggestion in one of the local papers regarding Alexander's Rag Time Band), will be the possibility of engaging professional musicians on a formal and regular basis to give additional strength to the Council's developing programme of serious music. When the question of having a permanent Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra was last raised in 1962, I think, quite rightly, it was decided by the Council that it was then premature to begin consideration of the matter. However, one of the effects of the success of the City Hall generally has been to stimulate and cater for increasing interest in the live performance of serious music. This can be illustrated by some statistics that the City Hall management has prepared. Throughout the whole of the year of 1959 which included an Arts Festival (two years before the City Hall opened), the public had the opportunity of hearing 54 concerts and recitals of live music at various halls throughout Hong Kong presented by various organiza- tions. Ten years later, during this current year, the public will have

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had the opportunity of hearing 133 concerts and recitals of live music in the City Hall alone, presented by a wide variety of organizations. [I stress that these figures on performances do not include plays, operas, miscellaneous variety concerts, film shows and school per- formances, although, in these too, there has also been a similar increase particularly in the presentation of drama.] Further, critical opinion is at least unanimous in this respect, that the overall standard of these musical presentations is now much higher than it was in 1959. This growing interest in live concerts and the undoubted success of the City Hall Popular Concerts now makes it appropriate to raise the question of a professional group of musicians again, but it would be premature for me to say more until the City Hall Select Committee has an opportunity to consider the matter fully.

Mr. FORSGATE will be pleased to know that the Commissioner for Transport confirms that public light buses have no divine right to hog road space. Government has, in fact, deliberately created favourable operating conditions for them to perform a satisfactory public service. The Commissioner has, however, observed that road- hogging by no means the prerogative of public light buses and that most road-users appear to assume divine or, in the Commissioner's words, "diabolical powers once behind their steering-wheels". The phenomenon is simply more noticeable with public light buses at their main congregating points. The Commissioner for Transport has their habits under constant surveillance and is confident that public light buses can and will be brought under control to a degree which will protect the legitimate interests of other road-users.

Mr. RAFEEK suggested that the Festival of Hong Kong should be held in summer so as to attract tourists at a time when they are unlikely to come to Hong Kong and so as not to conflict with school examinations. I think, however, that it is well-known and I noted from the publicity which was given to it, that the Festival was intended essentially for the people of Hong Kong and not for tourists. But, of course, it could well also act, incidentally, as a tourist attraction. As for holding it at a time when students would be over their pre- examination fever, I can only point out that this would mean at a time when we are likely to have heavy rains and even typhoons. It does not require much imagination to appreciate the effect to these on an ambitious festival of this magnitude with all its decorations and out- door events.

Whilst speaking about the Festival, may I say that I personally thought it was most successful, and I would like to congratulate those Members of this Council who played such a very large part in organizing it.