Page 113 of 187
188
# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Orchestra's association with the Council goes as far back as 1966 when Council began to sponsor all its concerts. Under the present policy, the Council provides management assistance for the performances and grants a monthly subsidy of $46,370 to the Orchestra in order to keep ticket prices within the reach of the majority of the community. The admission charges range from $2 for students to $10.
At present, the Orchestra gives 6 performances a month at the City Hall. Total attendance for 1974 is expected to be in the region of 70,000 persons, but the actual audience is much larger as all the Orchestra's concerts are broadcast by both the Chinese and the English networks on Radio Hong Kong and Commercial Radio.
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is managed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society Ltd. The Chairman and five members of the Committee of the Society are appointed by the Council, while the Vice Chairman and five members of the Committee are elected or appointed by the members and patrons of the Society.
The Council intends to continue supporting within reason the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra on the basis of one-third of its operational costs; leaving the Society to raise the balance from patrons, sponsors and box office receipts. An increased subsidy has been proposed in the 1975-76 Estimates in order to enable the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to engage more full-time professional musicians.
The Hong Kong Concert Orchestra is at present supported by its members and sponsors and does not receive direct subsidy from the Council.
(2) MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW asked the following question (in Cantonese):
I understand that this Council has on 31st October, 1974 at the afternoon session of the Sotheby's auction sale acquired some items of antiques.
(a) Can this Council be informed:
(i) Who did the bidding?
Page 189
(ii) How much money has been spent on these items?
(iii) Has that representative sought expert advice before or at the time of acquiring such items?
(iv) Were the bidding and purchase of these items made in accordance with the advice of the relevant advisers?
(v) If not, why not?
(b) Could a statement be now made by the Council to clarify the comments reported in the local papers in this connection for example one by May RICHARDSON at the correspondence column of the S.C.M. Post on November 8, 1974.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
This question deals with the antiques acquired at Sotheby's auction sale on 31st October, 1974. However presumably it refers to ceramics. One picture and a screen containing 12 pictures were also bought for a total sum of £4,400.
The information sought is as follows:
(i) The bids for the four items of ceramics were made by me.
(ii) The cost of these items amounted to £12,700.
(iii) Advice was sought from three honorary advisers prior to the auction.
(iv) The price recommended by the advisers was exceeded on one item, and two items were purchased without again having opportunity of seeking their advice on the spot.
(v) The bid made for an exceptionally fine and rare K'ang Hsi vase was £8,500 (then HK$102,000); this was £3,000 in excess of the price recommended by the advisers. This vase, originally a Hong Kong family heirloom, passed hands in 1967, the year of the serious riots, for about HK$60,000. It was eventually taken to Japan where, only last year, a dealer there wanted over HK$200,000 for the vase. Its fine colouring and drawing can only be appre-
Page 113 of 187
188
Page 189
Page 113 of 187
188
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Orchestra's association with the Council goes as far back as 1966 when Council began to sponsor all its concerts. Under the present policy, the Council provides manage- ment assistance for the performances and grants a month. ly subsidy of $46,370 to the Orchestra in order to keep ticket prices within the reach of the majority of the community. The admission charges range from $2 for students to $10.
At present, the Orchestra gives 6 performances a month at the City Hall. Total attendance for 1974 is expected to be in the region of 70,000 persons, but the actual audience is much larger as all the Orchestra's concerts are broad- cast by both the Chinese and the English networks on Radio Hong Kong and Commercial Radio.
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is managed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society Ltd. The Chairman and five members of the Committee of the Society are appointed by the Council, while the Vice Chairman and five members of the Committee are elected or appointed by the members and patrons of the Society.
The Council intends to continue supporting within reason the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra on the basis of one- third of its operational costs; leaving the Society to raise the balance from patrons, sponsors and box office re- ceipts. An increased subsidy has been proposed in the 1975-76 Estimates in order to enable the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to engage more full-time pro- fessional musicians.
The Hong Kong Concert Orchestra is at present supported by its members and sponsors and does not receive direct subsidy from the Council.
(2) MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW asked the following question (in Cantonese):
I understand that this Council has on 31st October, 1974 at the afternoon session of the Sotheby's auction sale ac- quired some items of antiques.
(a) Can this Council be informed:
(i) Who did the bidding?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
189
(ii) How much money has been spent on these
items?
(iii) Has that representative sought expert advice
before or at the time of acquiring such items? (iv) Were the bidding and purchase of these items made in accordance with the advice of the relevant advisers?
(v) If not, why not?
(b) Could a statement be now made by the Council to clarify the comments reported in the local papers in this connection for example one by May RICHARDSON at the correspondence column of the S.C.M. Post on November 8, 1974.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
This question deals with the antiques acquired at Sotheby's auction sale on 31st October, 1974. However presum- ably it refers to ceramics. One picture and a screen containing 12 pictures were also bought for a total sum of £4,400.
The information sought is as follows:
(i) The bids for the four items of ceramics were made
by me.
(ii) The cost of these items amounted to £12,700. (iii) Advice was sought from three honorary advisers
prior to the auction.
(iv) The price recommended by the advisers was exceeded on one item, and two items were purchased without again having opportunity of seeking their advice on the spot.
(v) The bid made for an exceptionally fine and rare K'ang Hsi vase was £8,500 (then HK$102,000); this was £3,000 in excess of the price recommended by the advisers. This vase, originally a Hong Kong family heirloom, passed hands in 1967, the year of the serious riots, for about HK$60,000. It was eventually taken to Japan where, only last year, a dealer there wanted over HK$200,000 for the vase. Its fine colouring and drawing can only be appre-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.