Page 38 of 154
44
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
presentation is the Festival of the Drama of Tso Yu, the well-known Chinese playwright, which was presented by the Urban Council during March and April. 24 local drama groups participated in the Festival, and the 24 performances presented drew an audience of over 90% of the seating capacity.
This summer, the Council will present 4 performances of Oriental and Chinese folk dances by 12 youth groups and dance companies and a series of 12 lectures by local composers on Chinese music compositions. Through these lectures, it is hoped that young composers will be encouraged to take part in a competition for music compositions planned for the later part of the year under the Urban Council Performing Arts Awards Scheme.
The Council also plans to publish a book entitled “A Symposium on the Development of Chinese Drama in the Twentieth Century", being edited notes on a series of 20 lectures organised by the Council in the summer of 1974.
Performances of Chinese music, drama and dance are always very popular among young people in Hong Kong, drawing high attendances. Tickets at special prices of $1 to $3 are available to students for these performances. An audience survey on the Council's cultural presentations conducted during UrbCo 1974 indicated that 88% of the audience were below the age of 29.
(4) MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, on behalf of Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, asked the following question (in English):-
What is being done to step up control over unsightly advertisements and posters?
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
The law as it stands does not provide for effective control over unsightly advertisements and posters, since it is seldom possible to identify the person who actually puts up the sign or poster, and it is this person who is the offender for purposes of prosecution. The Urban Services Department removes unsightly advertisements from time to time,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
45
but this is time-consuming and of limited effect as new posters appear almost as soon as the old ones are removed.
The Advertisements Sub-Committee is proposing to overhaul completely the present legislation on advertisements. Recommendations have been made for Part IX of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance to be amended so that, where an advertisement is unsightly, the Authority may require or effect the removal, with or without notice; and may recover the expenses incurred in removal from the person who exhibited the advertisement, or the person whose trade, business or other interest was given publicity by the advertisement, or the owner or occupier of the land or building on which the advertisement was exhibited. Non-compliance with a notice given by the Authority requiring the removal of an unsightly advertisement will render the offender liable to a much heavier penalty than that at present prescribed in the Summary Offences Ordinance for indiscriminate bill-posting.
These recommendations should provide more effective means of controlling the indiscriminate display of posters and advertisements.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT (in English):-Just on a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman. Did the questioner include the poster of his Civic Association at election times? (Laughter).
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. (Laughter).
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):-On a point of personal clarification, Mr. Chairman. I think the Civic Association election signs are as dominantly placed as Mrs. Elsie ELLIOTT'S.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-May I suggest that the Select Committee look into the question of whether these posters at election time improve the appearance of the city or not. If not, they should be prohibited; if yes, they should be allowed throughout the year. (Laughter).
Page 38 of 154
"
IL
Page 38 of 154
44
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
presentation is the Festival of the Drama of Tso Yu, the well-known Chinese playwright, which was presented by the Urban Council during March and April. 24 local drama groups participated in the Festival, and the 24 performances presented drew an audience of over 90% of the seating capacity.
This summer, the Council will present 4 performances of Oriental and Chinese folk dances by 12 youth groups and dance companies and a series of 12 lectures by local composers on Chinese music compositions. Through these lectures, it is hoped that young composers will be encouraged to take part in a competition for music com- positions planned for the later part of the year under the Urban Council Performing Arts Awards Scheme.
The Council also plans to publish a book entitled “A Symposium on the Development of Chinese Drama in the Twentieth Century", being edited notes on a series of 20 lectures organised by the Council in the summer of 1974.
Performances of Chinese music, drama and dance are always very popular among young people in Hong Kong, drawing high attendances. Tickets at special prices of $1 to $3 are available to students for these performances. An audience survey on the Council's cultural presentations conducted during UrbCo 1974 indicated that 88% of the audience were below the age of 29.
(4) MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, on behalf of Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, asked the following question (in English):-
What is being done to step up control over unsightly advertise-
ments and posters?
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
The law as it stands does not provide for effective control over unsightly advertisements and posters, since it is seldom possible to identify the person who actually puts up the sign or poster, and it is this person who is the offender for purposes of prosecution. The Urban Services Depart- ment removes unsightly advertisements from time to time,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
45
but this is time-consuming and of limited effect as new posters appear almost as soon as the old ones are re- moved.
The Advertisements Sub-Committee is proposing to overhaul completely the present legislation on advertisements. Recommendations have been made for Part IX of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance to be amended so that, where an advertisement is unsightly, the Authority may require or effect the removal, with or without notice; and may recover the expenses incurred in removal from the person who exhibited the advertisement, or the person whose trade, business or other interest was given publicity by the advertisement, or the owner or occupier of the land or building on which the advertise- ment was exhibited. Non-compliance with a notice given by the Authority requiring the removal of an unsightly advertisement will render the offender liable to a much heavier penalty than that at present prescribed in the Summary Offences Ordinance for indiscriminate bill- posting.
These recommendations should provide more effective means of controlling the indiscriminate display of posters and advertisements.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT (in English):-Just on a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman. Did the questioner include the poster of his Civic Association at election times? (Laughter).
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. (Laughter).
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):-On a point of personal clarification, Mr. Chairman. I think the Civic Association election signs are as dominantly placed as Mrs. Elsie ELLIOTT'S.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-May I suggest that the Select Committee look into the question of whether these posters at election time improve the appearance of the city or not. If not, they should be prohibited; if yes, they should be allowed throughout the year. (Laughter).
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.