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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to monopolize what, up to until recently, has been the only cultural facility of any significance in Hong Kong.
Hirers can request financial assistance by way of subsidy towards their hire charges. The Urban Council also has a subsidy scheme whereby non-commercial hirers can request financial assistance. For the year 1979-80, the provision for such subsidy amounted to $300,000.
Highlights of Urban Council cultural presentations at the City Hall during the year include: Cantonese opera 'Love Story of a Carp' in March, the Third International Film Festival of Hong Kong in June, Vienna Folk Opera Orchestra in July, Chinese Opera Festival in July, NHK Symphony Orchestra in August, Australian Dance Company in September, BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra in September, Alvin Nikolais Dance Company in October, Fourth Festival of Asian Arts in October, and Opera 'Cavalleria Rusticana' and 'I Pagliacci' in November.
Mr. Chairman, you have already commented extensively on the Fourth Festival of Asian Arts in your November Statement; suffice for me to say that I have been most impressed by the favourable press comments both here and abroad. Much goodwill has been generated. No doubt, the continuing success of the Festival will revive interests in Chinese culture amongst the people of Hong Kong as well as encourage new talents in the community to emerge.
For the year 1979, public interest and attendance at performances given by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Hong Kong Repertory Theatre continue unabated. The Orchestra now has a strength of 50 full-time musicians and 25 part-time musicians. It is intended to increase the strength of the full-time musicians to 60 in order to further improve the musical quality of the Orchestra. In addition, 7 well-known composers and musicians have been appointed as Honorary Advisers to assist in the development of the Orchestra.
Up to December 1979, a total of 33 public concerts were given with an attendance figure of 44,115. Six school performances were also given to an equally enthusiastic audience.
For the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, the strength is 10 full-time actors/actresses. They are regularly assisted by free-lance actors and actresses as the script demands. A Consultant Artistic Director has been appointed to further improve the artistic quality of the company.
During the year, 5 large productions totalling 67 performances were staged with an attendance of 32,141, and two small productions with 14 performances were staged with 1,714 persons attending. In addition, amateur drama competition, script writing competition, children's drama performances, lectures, demonstrations, touring performances at schools, libraries, and district centres were organized.
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In 1980, it is hoped that the Theatre will be able to reach an even greater sector of the community by broadcasting a series of plays through radio and television.
I come next to the Urban Council outdoor entertainment programmes. This has been a year of fine tuning. To meet the growing demand for better entertainment programmes and community services, the Urban Council has added new programmes such as Children's Dance Day in April, Children's Games Day in July, Children's Film Festival in August, Children's Tricycle Contest in August, Children's Painting Competitions in January and June, and Evergreen Singing Competition in May. Simultaneously, the frequency and content of regular programmes are reassessed to bring them in line with the changing taste of the public. The Council found special festive programmes to be increasingly popular. This year, 'Operation Kung Hei', Chinese New Year Special, Chinese New Year Music Variety Show, April Fiesta in celebration of the Queen's Birthday were organized and well attended. Grand Balls were held at hotels during Christmas, New Year, Easter, and Mid-Autumn festival. Invariably, they were full houses.
The Summer Fun Festival, which has become a regular feature of the Urban Council entertainment schedule, was held with a total of 61 events, from mid-July to September.
This year, for the first time, the Urban Council took on the responsibility as the major organizer of the Lantern Festival. Two large-scale carnivals, one at Victoria Park and one at Morse Park, were attended by a total of some 260,000 people over a two-day period. Indeed, it would be appropriate for me at this time to thank the many civic organizations which helped make this Festival a success. It is a perfect example of how organizations of goodwill can join together to serve the citizens of Hong Kong.
All in all, 759 outdoor entertainment events took place, and were attended by 1,031,131 persons.
Mr. Chairman, this will be the third annual debate in which the subject of the Museum of Science and Technology comes up. During the past year, the Council has done all it can to push the project further. The consultants employed by the Council unanimously concluded that the proposal to develop a major Museum of Science and Technology is 'well founded', that a properly developed and implemented museum could serve all the people of Hong Kong as well as becoming an important tourist destination, that a modern Museum of Science and Technology will strongly support the existing educational, cultural, scientific, and technical communities of Hong Kong, and will be a significant force in interpreting science and technology to a population whose livelihood depends upon it. I sincerely hope that in the not too distant future, government will give its approval for the Council to proceed with the planning of this most worthwhile project. Any further delay cannot be but a great loss to the community of Hong Kong and finally after listening to the deliberations
Page 107 of 136
4
180
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to monopolize what, up to until recently, has been the only cultural facility
of any significance in Hong Kong.
hirers can request financial assistance by way of subsidy towards their hire The Urban Council also has a subsidy scheme whereby non-commercial charges. For the year 1979-80, the provision for such subsidy amounted to
$300,000.
Highlights of Urban Council cultural presentations at the City Hall during the year include: Cantonese opera 'Love Story of a Carp' in March, the Third International Film Festival of Hong Kong in June, Vienna Folk Opera Orchestra in July, Chinese Opera Festival in July, NHK Symphony Orchestra in August, Australian Dance Company in September, BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra in September, Alvin Nikolais Dance Com pany in October, Fourth Festival of Asian Arts in October, and Opera 'Cavalleria Rusticana' and 'I Pagliacci' in November.
on the Fourth
Mr. Chairman, you have already commented extensively Festival of Asian Arts in your November Statement, suffice for me to say that I have been most impressed by the favourable press comments both here and abroad. Much goodwill have been generated. No doubt, the con- tinuing success of the Festival will revive interests in Chinese cultural amongst the people of Hong Kong as well as encourage new talents in the community
to emerge.
For the year 1979, public interest and attendance at performance given by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Hong Kong Repertory Theatre continue unabated. The Orchestra now has a strength of 50 full-time musicians and 25 part-time musicians. It is intended to increase the strength of the full-time musician to 60 in order to further improve the musical quality of the Orchestra. In addition, 7 well-known composers and musicians have been appointed as Honorary Advisers to assist in the development of the Orchestra.
Up to December 1979, a total of 33 public concerts were given with an attendance figure of 44,115. Six school performances were also given to an equally enthusiastic audience.
For the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, the strength is 10 full-time actors/ actresses. They are regularly assisted by free-lance actors and actresses as the script demands. A Consultant Artistic Director has been appointed to further improve the artistic quality of the company.
During the year, 5 large productions totalling 67 performances were staged with an attendance of 32,141, and two small productions with 14 per formances were staged with 1,714 persons attending. In addition, amateur drama competition, script writing competition, children's drama performances, lectures demonstrations, touring performances at schools, libraries and district centres were organized.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 107 of 136
181
In 1980, it is hoped that the Theatre will be able to reach an even greater sector of the community by broadcasting a series of plays through radio and
television.
I come next to the Urban Council outdoor entertainment programmes. This has been a year of fine tuning. To meet the growing demand for better enter- tainment programmes and community services, the Urban Council has added new programmes such as Children's Dance Day in April, Children's Games Day in July, Children's Film Festival in August, Children's Tricycle Contest in August, Children's Painting Competitions in January and June, and Evergreen Singing Competition in May. Simultaneously, the frequency and content of regular programmes are reassessed to bring them in line with the changing taste of the public. The Council found special festive pro- grammes to be increasingly popular. This year, ‘Operation Kung Hei', Chinese New Year Special, Chinese New Year Music Variety Show, April Fiesta in celebration of the Queen's Birthday were organized and well attended. Grand Balls were held at hotels during Christmas, New Year, Easter and Mid- Autumn festival. Invariably, they were full houses.
ever
The Summer Fun Festival which has become a regular feature of the Urban Council entertainment schedule was held with a total of 61 events, from mid July to September.
This year, for the first time, the Urban Council took on the responsibility as the major organizer of the Lantern Festival. Two large scale carnivals, one at Victoria Park and one at Morse Park were attended by a total of some 260,000 people over a two day period. Indeed, it would be appropriate for me at this time to thank the many civic organizations which helped made this Festival a success. It is a perfect example of how organizations of goodwill can join together to serve the citizens of Hong Kong.
All in all, 759 outdoor entertainment events took place, and were attended by 1,031,131 persons.
Mr. Chairman, this will be the third annual debate in which the subject of the Museum of Science and Technology comes up. During the past year, the Council has done all it can to push the project further. The consultants employed by the Council unanimously concluded that the proposal to develop a major Museum of Science and Technology is 'well founded', that a properly developed and implemented museum could serve all the people of Hong Kong as well as becoming an important tourist destination, that a modern Museum of Science and Technology will strongly support the existing educational, cultural, scientific and technical communities of Hong Kong, and will be a significant force in interpreting science and technology to a population whose livelihood depends upon it. I sincerely hope that in the not too distant future, government will give its approval for the Council to proceed with the planning of this most worthwhile project. Any further delay cannot be but a great loss to the community of Hong Kong and finally after listening to the deliberations
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