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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. HU (in English):---In 1973 and 74, there was no actual subsidy, but we charged only 50 per cent of the hiring charge, which amounts in actual money term, roughly about $170,000 and there was no contribution from the Government. In 1975, there was 50 per cent reduction of the hiring charge plus $300,000, and there was no contribution from the Government. I think I might as well give you the figure of the total expenditure of the Arts Festival. The total expenditure was $2.7 million for 1975. In 1976, the Council's contribution was again 50 per cent of the hiring charge, which was more or less around $170,000 plus $300,000 and there was no contribution from the Government and the total expenditure of the Festival was $2.3 million. In 1977, the Council's contribution was $468,000 and the Government's contribution was half million and the total expenditure was $2.5 million. In 1978, the Council's contribution, let's say subsidy, was $500,000 and the Government's contribution was $670,000 and the total expenditure was $3.5 million. In 1979, the Council's subsidy was $500,000 and the Government's contribution was $1 million and the total expenditure was $3.5 million. In 1980, the Council's subsidy was again $500,000 and the Government's contribution was again $1 million and the total expenditure was $4.4 million. In 1981, the Council's contribution was increased to $800,000, this was mainly due to the adjustment of the hiring charges of the Council's facilities and the increase was necessary to cover the additional hiring charge and in 1981, the Government's contribution was $1.4 million and the total expenditure was $5.6 million. For 1982's Arts Festival, the Council's contribution will be $1 million and the Government's contribution will be $1.99 million and the estimated expenditure of the festival is $7.8 million.
MR. YOUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, from the figures just quoted, it appears that in the initial days, the Council had taken a lead in subsidizing the Arts Festival. Now, the central Government has come in to the extent that the central Government subsidy is twice that of the Urban Council's. Does the Chairman think that perhaps in future events there is room for even more generosity from the side of the Urban Council, so that this festival can continue to make progress.
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the Council's contribution is more than financial subsidy. The Council also contribute a lot of Council's programmes as part of the programme of the Arts Festival and that would cost the Council a lot of financial resources.
MRS. Ho (in English): Mr. Chairman, in view of the reducing proportion of subsidy from the Council for the Arts Festival, does the Chairman consider reducing it further, and concentrating the Council's efforts on the Asian Arts Festival.
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the Arts Festival is one of the most important festival in this part of the world and I think the Council does have the responsibility of making a suitable contribution towards this important festival and I think it would be wrong for us to withdraw from this important Arts Festival. On the other hand, of course, Council's own Festival of Asian Arts is, have to be looked after equally as important.
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MOTIONS
1. MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE, Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, moved the following motion:—
'RESOLVED that the Urban Council Financial (Amendment) (No. 2) By-laws 1981 and the Urban Council (Fees for Official Signatures and Miscellaneous Services) By-laws 1981 be made under sections 37 and 41A of the Urban Council Ordinance, Cap. 101.'
He said (in English):---Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:-
'THAT the Urban Council Financial (Amendment) (No. 2) By-laws 1981 and the Urban Council (Fees for Official Signatures and Miscellaneous Services) By-laws 1981 be made under sections 37 and 41A of the Urban Council Ordinance, Cap. 101'.
These amendments arise from Council's decisions to:--
(a) delegate some of its financial authority to committees and public officers,
and
(b) create a Museums Acquisition Reserve Fund with a provision of
$1 million.
By-laws are also required to specify the amount of official signature fees that may be charged and retained by the Urban Council.
Sir, I beg to move.
MR. PETER P. F. Chan, Vice-Chairman of the FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded (in English): Sir, I beg to move.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
2. MR. SHUM Choi-sang, Chairman of the Markets and STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that—
(a) a Declaration be made under section 79(1) of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 to amend further the Declaration of Markets in Urban Areas first published in the Gazette as Government Notice Number 1620 of 1960; and
Page 62 of 146
82
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. HU (in English):---In 1973 and 74, there was no actual subsidy, but we charged only 50 per cent of the hiring charge, which amounts in actual money term, roughly about $170,000 and there was no contribution from the Govern- ment. In 1975, there was 50 per cent reduction of the hiring charge plus $300,000, and there was no contribution from the Government. I think I might as well give you the figure of the total expenditure of the Arts Festival. The total expenditure was $2.7 million for 1975. In 1976, the Council's contribution was again 50 per cent of the hiring charge, which was more or less around $170,000 plus $300,000 and there was no contribution from the Government and the total expenditure of the Festival was $2.3 million. In 1977, the Council's contribution was $468,000 and the Government's contribution was half million and the total expenditure was $2.5 million. In 1978, the Council's contribution, let's say subsidy, was $500,000 and the Government's contribution was $670,000 and the total expenditure was $3.5 million. In 1979, the Council's subsidy was $500,000 and the Government's contribution was $1 million and the total expenditure was $3.5 million. In 1980, the Council's subsidy was again $500,000 and the Government's contribution was again $1 million and the total expenditure was $4.4 million. In 1981, the Council's contribution was increased to $800,000, this was mainly due to the adjustment of the hiring charges of the Council's facilities and the increase was necessary to cover the additional hiring charge and in 1981, the Government's contribution was $14 million and the total expenditure was $5.6 million. For 1982's Arts Festival, the Council's contribution will be $1 million and the Government's contribution will be $1.99 million and the estimated expenditure of the festival is $7.8 million.
MR. YOUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, from the figures just quoted, it appears that in the initial days, the Council had taken a lead in subsidizing the Arts Festival. Now, the central Government has come in to the extent that the central Government subsidy is twice that of the Urban Council's. Does the Chairman think that perhaps in future events there is room for even more generosity from the side of the Urban Council, so that this festival can continue to make progress.
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the Council's contribution is more than financial subsidy. The Council also contribute a lot of Council's programmes as part of the programme of the Arts Festival and that would cost the Council a lot of financial resources.
MRS. Ho (in English): Mr. Chairman, in view of the reducing proportion of subsidy from the Council for the Arts Festival, does the Chairman consider reducing it further, and concentrating the Council's efforts on the Asian Arts Festival.
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the Arts Festival is one of the most important festival in this part of the world and I think the Council does have the responsibility of making a suitable contribution towards this important festival and I think it would be wrong for us to withdraw from this important Arts
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Festival. On the other hand, of course, Council's own Festival of Asian Arts is, have to be looked after equally as important.
MOTIONS
1. MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE, Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, moved the following motion:—
'RESOLVED that the Urban Council Financial (Amendment) (No. 2) By-laws 1981 and the Urban Council (Fees for Official Signatures and Miscellaneous Services) By-laws 1981 be made under sections 37 and 41A of the Urban Council Ordinance, Cap. 101.'
He said (in English):---Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my
name:-
'THAT the Urban Council Financial (Amendment) (No. 2) By-laws 1981 and the Urban Council (Fees for Official Signatures and Miscellaneous Services) By-laws 1981 be made under sections 37 and 41A of the Urban Council Ordinance, Cap. 101'.
These amendments arise from Council's decisions to:--
(a) delegate some of its financial authority to committees and public officers,
and
(b) create a Museums Acquisition Reserve Fund with a provision of
$1 million.
By-laws are also required to specify the amount of official signature fees that may be charged and retained by the Urban Council.
Sir, I beg to move.
MR. PETER P. F. Chan, Vice-Chairman of the FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded (in English): Sir, I beg to move.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
2. MR. SHUM Choi-sang, Chairman of the Markets and STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that—
(a) a Declaration be made under section 79(1) of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 to amend further the Declaration of Markets in Urban Areas first published in the Gazette as Government Notice Number 1620 of 1960; and
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.