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with publicity hand-outs. The Council should do something to improve this situation, otherwise, streets littered with these cards will pose a big mockery to the 'Keep Hong Kong Clean' Campaign.
With rapid development under way, Hong Kong is steadily becoming a large, complex cosmopolitan city. The New Territories has also changed fast from a rural area into an urban area. It will not be long before the New Territories will integrate with the existing urban area. Whether or not the integration will take place and no matter when it will come into effect, it is the Council which is responsible for co-ordination and administration. Thus, it is inevitable that the workload of the Council grows daily and the responsibility of Councillors become more complicated and heavy. The limitation in time and ability makes me feel that I can only continue to serve as Councillor on condition that I can contribute to the Council all my strength and time. Under present circumstances, it is not possible for me to fulfil this. Hence, I have decided not to run for re-election.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those electors who voted for me four years ago. I will also bid farewell to all Councillors who have worked with me for the past four years. Please pardon me, one who withdraws from your force. I hope that all of you will continue to work hard so as to make Hong Kong advance rapidly with the changing times. I believe that you can achieve the goals with your outstanding ability and your undaunted spirit for progress.
Finally, I would like to say that I support the motion.
MR LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG (in English):- Mr Chairman, had I realized that the easy way out, that cannot be accountable to the public, is to stage a walk-out, I could have saved myself many sleepless nights in preparing my talk for this afternoon, but certainly in the age of enlightened government a walk-out or boycott is very much of an obsolete political tool. May I join some of my other senior colleagues in paying a tribute to the Chairman of the Urban Council for his leadership and his total dedication to the Council as well as service to the public.
One of the aims of the Urban Council is to create a community of high quality in cultural pursuits and extensive public entertainment for the enjoyment of Hong Kong citizens. Mr Chairman, with your permission I will endeavour to summarize the Council's past nine months' achievements.
We have staged indoor performances at the City Hall complex and outdoor performances at outdoor venues in all the eleven (11) districts of Hong Kong regularly.
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Thus by design, Council's cultural activities are intended for the education of the young and the enjoyment of all, as well as encouraging young and emerging artists to give public performances at the City Hall facilities, and in front of live audiences.
From April 1 to the end of December, the Council presented no less than 475 indoor performances with an attendance figure of some 242,600 persons, and 622 outdoor performances enjoyed by some 705,000 people.
During the year, performances worthy of special note included: a Mandarin opera in April, eight successful performances of the Stuttgart Ballet and G. B. SHAW'S ‘CANDIDA' by the Dublin Festival Theatre in July, five full houses for the Cleveland Orchestra in September and full houses for the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg and the NDR Symphony Orchestra of Hamburg in November and December. In the middle of December, the Council presented Puccini's Opera ‘TOSCA' produced by a well-known local opera producer with local and overseas soloists and supported by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
From June 26--July 9, 1978, the Second International Film Festival sponsored by the Council took place at the City Hall. Forty-four (44) films from over 21 countries were shown to an audience of 27,000 at 113 showings. 28,000 visitors attended 2 exhibitions at the City Hall Exhibition Hall and Gallery. 18 Cantonese films made in the 1950's were shown to a variety of audiences young and old. Another section of the Film Festival was devoted to the showing of 5 contemporary commercial Hong Kong films from the major and independent studios as well as 6 television films and 7 short films by young Hong Kong film makers. Gradually, the film festival is attracting increased interest both in Hong Kong and abroad.
By far the Council's biggest cultural presentation of the year was the Third Festival of Asian Arts held from October 14-27, 1978. Unquestionably, the popularity and success of this Festival was clearly established. There were a total of 69 performances at the City Hall in addition to 40 open air performances at 3 major outdoor venues in Hong Kong and Kowloon as well as 6 major exhibitions presented by the Museum Section.
Of the 32 main performances at the City Hall, 27 were complete sold-out attracting a capacity audience of 98%. Participating countries this year included Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and of course Hong Kong. Participating artists included 450 from overseas forming 16 groups, as well as several hundreds local artists.
The Festival is also generating a considerable amount of favourable publicity for Hong Kong, and this year alone, it has attracted the presence of a British television team which remained in Hong Kong for the duration of the Festival. A one-hour long television programme is going to be screened
Page 112 of 135
Page 112 of 135
184
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
with publicity hand-outs. The Council should do something to improve this situation, otherwise, streets littered with these cards will pose a big mockery to the 'Keep Hong Kong Clean' Campaign.
With rapid development under way, Hong Kong is steadily becoming a large, complex cosmopolitan city. The New Territories has also changed fast from a rural area into an urban area. It will not be long before the New Territories will integrate with the existing urban area. Whether or not the integration will take place and no matter when it will come into effect, it is the Council which is responsible for co-ordination and administration. Thus, it is inevitable that the workload of the Council grows daily and the responsibility of Councillors become more complicated and heavy. The limitation in time and ability makes me feel that I can only continue to serve as Councillor on condition that I can contribute to the Council all my strength and time. Under present circumstances, it is not possible for me to fulfil this. Hence, I have decided not to run for re-election.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those electors who voted for me four years ago. I will also bid farewell to all Councillors who have worked with me for the past four years. Please pardon me, one who withdraws from your force. I hope that all of you will continue to work hard so as to make Hong Kong advance rapidly with the changing times. I believe that you can achieve the goals with your outstanding ability and your undaunted spirit for progress.
Finally, I would like to say that I support the motion.
MR LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, had I realized that the easy way out, that cannot be accountable to the public, is to stage a walk-out, I could have saved myself many sleepless nights in preparing my talk for this afternoon, but certainly in the age of enlightened govern- ment a walk-out or boycott is very much of an obsolete political tool. May I join some of my other senior colleagues in paying a tribute to the Chairman of the Urban Council for his leadership and his total dedication to the Council as well as service to the public.
One of the aims of the Urban Council is to create a community of high quality in cultural pursuits and extensive public entertainment for the enjoyment of Hong Kong citizens. Mr Chairman, with your permission I will endeavour to summarize the Council's past nine months' achievements.
We have staged indoor performances at the City Hall complex and outdoor performances at outdoor venues in all the eleven (11) districts of Hong Kong regularly.
Most of the indoor performances are priced at a very reasonable level and almost all of the outdoor entertainment programmes are free of charge.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 112 of 135
185
Thus by design, Council's cultural activities are intended for the education of the young and the enjoyment of all, as well as encouraging young and emerging artists to give public performances at the City Hall facilities, and in front of live audiences.
From April 1 to the end of December, the Council presented no less than 475 indoor performances with an attendance figure of some 242,600 persons, and 622 outdoor performances enjoyed by some 705,000 people.
During the year, performances worthy of special note included: a Mandarin opera in April, eight successful performances of the Stuttgart Ballet and G. B. SHAW'S ‘CANDIDA' by the Dublin Festival Theatre in July, five full houses for the Cleveland Orchestra in September and full houses for the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg and the NDR Symphony Orchestra of Hamburg in November and December. In the middle of December, the Council presented Puccini's Opera ‘TOSCA' produced by a well-known local opera producer with local and overseas soloists and supported by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
From June 26--July 9, 1978, the Second International Film Festival sponsored by the Council took place at the City Hall. Forty-four (44) films from over 21 countries were shown to an audience of 27,000 at 113 showings. 28,000 visitors attended 2 exhibitions at the City Hall Exhibition Hall and Gallery. 18 Cantonese films made in the 1950's were shown to a variety of audiences young and old. Another section of the Film Festival was devoted to the showing of 5 contemporary commercial Hong Kong films from the major and independent studios as well as 6 television films and 7 short films by young Hong Kong film makers. Gradually, the film festival is attracting increased interest both in Hong Kong and abroad.
By far the Council's biggest cultural presentation of the year was the Third Festival of Asian Arts held from October 14-27, 1978. Unquestionably, the popularity and success of this Festival was clearly established. There were a total of 69 performances at the City Hall in addition to 40 open air perform- ances at 3 major outdoor venues in Hong Kong and Kowloon as well as 6 major exhibitions presented by the Museum Section.
Of the 32 main performances at the City Hall, 27 were complete sold-out attracting a capacity audience of 98%. Participating countries this year included Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and of course Hong Kong. Participating artists included 450 from overseas forming 16 groups, as well as several hundreds local artists.
The Festival is also generating a considerable amount of favourable publicity for Hong Kong, and this year alone, it has attracted the presence of a British television team which remained in Hong Kong for the duration of the Festival. A one-hour long television programme is going to be screened
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