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their first application of City Hall facilities for performance. I refer particularly to those successful students who went overseas to further their studies on scholarships or other financial assistance they won in Hong Kong. It may also be added that because of the scarcity of chances of obtaining the use of the Concert Hall or the Theatre, it may be necessary in future to tighten the system of merits allowance.
The Library Select Committee and the Museums Select Committee, together with their respective staffs of the U.S.D. are doing their parts satisfactorily, facing a tight budget and an ever increasing and demanding population.
As regards the whole Council, since there is no new participation on the various advisory boards of the central government by councillors other than those who participated, it may be desirable to form an extra-council group to study the various vital city affairs such as Transport, Education, Hospital facilities, Public Works, Housing etc. that should normally come within the jurisdiction of a city council. Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I second the motion.
(Mr. Edmund W. H. CHOW left the meeting at this point.)
MR. F. K. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the City Hall & Entertainment Select Committee, I will start my speech by reviewing what we have done in the City Hall.
On the year-round programmes, whilst continuing its policy of supporting the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Council has further expanded its cultural activities and has sponsored 278 performances, including 124 of music, 40 of drama, 30 of dance, 4 of puppetry, 80 of films this year up to end of November, yielding a total attendance of 250,000.
The most spectacular, ambitious and successful achievement of the Council this year is undoubtedly the Festival of Asian Arts which took place in November. There were many talks about the idea of such major festival in Asia but this Council had the courage and determination to put the idea into reality. The Working Party, with enthusiastic backing of the department staff, managed to finalize the organization and preparation of the Festival within an extremely limited period of four months. The Festival with performers from Japan, Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, India and our own local groups provided Hong Kong a chance to see a wide range of traditional arts
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of very high standard in this region. There were 33 performances and actual sales of tickets reached 98% so that in reality all performances were virtually played to full houses. The public reaction was most favourable and Hong Kong is now firmly established as one of the most important cultural centres in Asia. The obvious question is when the Council will organize the Festival again and whether the Festival will be held on regular basis. It is worthwhile for the Council to pursue the idea of making the Festival at least a biennial event in Hong Kong.
The Council continued its policy of encouraging creative talents in the performing arts by its biennial awards. Following awards to drama composition in 1973, the Council gave awards to music composition this year.
The three awards for music composition are for orchestral, chamber music, and solo instrumental work respectively. The adjudication was made by established composer or professor in music one each from Europe, America and Japan. Consideration will be given for awards to other arts to stimulate creativeness.
Following the professionalization of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Council is thinking seriously to set up a professional theatre company and a professional Chinese Orchestra. The formation of these companies will no doubt enhance Hong Kong's reputation in Asia's cultural scenes. The limitation of performing space will present some difficulty in realizing the plans, but the climate is ripe and the Council is ready to go forward. At a later stage, the Council will consider setting up a professional dance company with performers and trainees for ballet, modern dance as well as folk dance. We are, therefore, waiting anxiously for the new cultural complex in Tsim Sha Tsui as a home for the performing arts. In the meantime, we are always looking for suitable venues as the present facilities have been practically fully utilized and are imposing a limit to our ambitious plans of further expansion of cultural activities.
Following the example of the Museums, the Council is also considering the extension of its educational service for the performing arts. These will include systematically collecting information, data and records in connection with the cultural activities in Hong Kong with a view to set up archives, to set up a book stall in the City Hall for dissemination of publications on the arts and finally, to publish, or to assist in the publication of books, music scores, scripts, journals, etc. relating to the performing arts.
The Council continues to improve the existing facilities and service in the City Hall. The sound system of the Concert Hall, having been under heavy usage for over 10 years, is at present not working to the
Page 102 of 135
168
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
their first application of City Hall facilities for performance. I refer particularly to those successful students who went overseas to further their studies on scholarships or other financial assistance they won in Hong Kong. It may also be added that because of the scarcity of chances of obtaining the use of the Concert Hall or the Theatre, it may be necessary in future to tighten the system of merits allowance.
The Library Select Committee and the Museums Select Committee, together with their respective staffs of the U.S.D. are doing their parts satisfactorily, facing a tight budget and an ever increasing and demand- ing population.
As regards the whole Council, since there is no new participation on the various advisory boards of the central of government by council- lors other than those who participated, it may be desirable to form an extra-council group to study the various vital city affairs such as Transport, Education, Hospital facilities, Public Works, Housing etc. that should normally come within the jurisdiction of a city council. Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I second the motion.
(Mr. Edmund W. H. CHOW left the meeting at this point.)
MR. F. K. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the City Hall & Entertainment Select Committee, I will start my speech by reviewing what we have done in the City Hall.
On the year-round programmes, whilst continuing its policy of supporting the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Council has further expanded its cultural activities and has sponsored 278 performances, including 124 of music, 40 of drama, 30 of dance, 4 of puppetry, 80 of films this year up to end of November, yielding a total attendance of 250,000.
The most spectacular, ambitious and successful achievement of the Council this year is undoubtedly the Festival of Asian Arts which took place in November. There were many talks about the idea of such major festival in Asia but this Council had the courage and determina- tion to put the idea into reality. The Working Party, with enthusiastic backing of the department staff, managed to finalize the organization and preparation of the Festival within an extremely limited period of four months. The Festival with performers from Japan, Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, India and our own local groups provided Hong Kong a chance to see a wide range of traditional arts
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of very high standard in this region. There were 33 performances and actual sales of tickets reached 98% so that in reality all performances were virtually played to full houses. The public reaction was most favourable and Hong Kong is now firmly established as one of the most important cultural centres in Asia. The obvious question is when the Council will organize the Festival again and whether the Festival will be held on regular basis. It is worthwhile for the Council to pursue the idea of making the Festival at least a biennial event in Hong Kong.
The Council continued its policy of encouraging creative talents in the performing arts by its biennial awards. Following awards to drama composition in 1973, the Council gave awards to music composition this year.
The three awards for music composition are for orchestral, chamber music, and solo instrumental work respectively. The adju- dication was made by established composer or professor in music one each from Europe, America and Japan. Consideration will be given for awards to other arts to stimulate creativeness.
Following the professionalization of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Council is thinking seriously to set up a professional theatre company and a professional Chinese Orchestra. The forma- tion of these companies will no doubt enhance Hong Kong's reputation in Asia's cultural scenes. The limitation of performing space will present some difficulty in realizing the plans, but the climate is ripe and the Council is ready to go forward. At a later stage, the Council will consider setting up a professional dance company with performers and trainees for ballet, modern dance as well as folk dance. We are, there- fore, waiting anxiously for the new cultural complex in Tsim Sha Tsui as a home for the performing arts. In the meantime, we are always looking for suitable venues as the present facilities have been practically fully utilized and are imposing a limit to our ambitious plans of further expansion of cultural activities.
Following the example of the Museums, the Council is also con- sidering the extension of its educational service for the performing arts. These will include systematically collecting information, data and records in connection with the cultural activities in Hong Kong with a view to set up archives, to set up a book stall in the City Hall for dissemination of publications on the arts and finally, to publish, or to assist in the publication of books, music scores, scripts, journals, etc. relating to the performing arts.
The Council continues to improve the existing facilities and service in the City Hall. The sound system of the Concert Hall, having been under heavy usage for over 10 years, is at present not working to the
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