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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
However, it is important that the quality of housing matches up with people's ever rising expectations. So the Housing Authority's efforts have been directed to provide more space allocation, improved design and the introduction of the impact of massive concrete structure. In this connection, I urge many recreational and other amenities including extensive landscaping to soften Councillors to have a look at the newly completed Lung Hang Estate in Sha Tin, which is fully landscaped with indoor features and garden naturally ventilated and lighted, a project where the architect has been encouraged by the Authority to adopt an imaginative design.
This Council has also taken an active part in contributing to the squatter improvement scheme aimed at improving conditions in major squatter areas. This work, undertaken by the Housing Department, has been successfully carried out in three areas and a 5-year plan to extend this work to other densely populated squatter areas is in hand. The Urban Council is happy to cooperate in this very worthwhile scheme and increase the scope of its services to the underprivileged squatter population.
Turning to environmental protection, the main breakthrough in 1983 was the passage of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance in April. Subsidiary Regulations were made in July and the Ordinance itself was brought into force on October.
On the water side, I am glad to note the introduction of new administrative arrangements for coordinating departments' work on river pollution in the New Territories. I know, too, that Beach Pollution has been made the subject of another new initiative. In each case, priority targets have been identified and the results of this work should begin to emerge over the next year.
On Noise, the word is that legal drafting has now begun on the Noise Control Bill. This long-awaited measure, which will be considered by E.P.C.O.M. this year, will complete the quartet of Ordinances which will provide the framework for the control of pollution in the Territory.
The proposed nuclear power station at Daya Bay has aroused considerable interest for economic, political and safety reasons. E.P.C.O.M. is concerned with the safety factor and the precautions to be taken during construction and after it is in operation. In this connection, the Chairman of China Light & Power Co., Lord KADOORIE, stated at the Company's recent Annual General Meeting that the station will be constructed and operated in accordance with the latest international standard. The Chinese Authorities have already employed independent consultants to advise them. Also, a firm of experienced and highly qualified architect/engineers will examine this advice in detail on behalf of the Joint Venture Company to ensure the nuclear power station is both clean and safe.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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E.P.C.O.M. will, of course, continue to monitor progress in the same way as it has done with other large projects affecting the environment of Hong Kong.
I wish now to speak on behalf of Dr. Philip Kwok, Chairman of the General Committee of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society, who is at this moment heavily engaged in promoting Hong Kong in the U.S.A., and myself, as Hon. Treasurer of the Society, about the progress of the Phil. Since Dr. Philip Kwok spoke in this debate last year, the Philharmonic Orchestra has made more progress than ever before. In April, an editorial in our major newspapers commented 'Hong Kong people know that if awards were to be distributed for improvement and excellence, the Orchestra deserves that in very large measure'. The standard of performance continues to develop and it is now generally agreed that it is on a par with the best in Asia. This fact was proved beyond dispute in April when the Orchestra made a most successful tour to Singapore, Bangkok and the prestigious International Festival of Music in Osaka, where it appeared alongside such major international orchestras as the Vienna Philharmonic and the National Symphony from Washington D.C.
There can now no longer be any doubt whatever that the Orchestra is a major community asset, supported by all sections of the community. Also in April, the Society launched one of the most ambitious appeals for funds ever in our history. A capital sum of $50 million is being sought to establish an Endowment Fund for the Orchestra which will provide a regular source of annual income. In spite of a less than favourable economic climate, one-quarter of that sum has already been pledged, indicating the importance attached to the Philharmonic by business and commerce.
The image of the Philharmonic has also been developed. Concerts featuring music from the standard symphonic repertoire must and will remain the backbone of the Orchestra's activities. Concerts in the City Hall Concert Hall continue to attract near-capacity audiences and to meet the increasing demand for tickets, additional performances will soon have to be considered.
It is in the Council's newer venues of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and the Hong Kong Coliseum, however, that much progress has been made. The pops concert formula has been refined over the last two years and is now generating a vast new audience for the Orchestra. During the Asian Arts Festival two months ago at the Orchestra's debut concert in the Coliseum, 35,000 people turned up to hear 3 performances of symphonic arrangements of music from popular films. Although we are less than half way through the 1983/84 season, the Society's Committee confidently predicts that the number of people attending Philharmonic performances will more than double the total for any previous season—and this means almost a quarter of a million citizens of Hong Kong. To this must be added the hundreds of thousands of others who hear the Orchestra through its regular weekly broadcasts on R.T.H.K. and the 7 commercial gramophone recordings that have been issued over the past twelve months.
178
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
However, it is important that the quality of housing matches up with people's ever rising expectations. So the Housing Authority's efforts have been directed to provide more space allocation, improved design and the introduction of the impact of massive concrete structure. In this connection, I urge ai many recreational and other amenities including extensive landscaping to soften Councillors to have a look at the newly completed Lung Hang Estate in Sha T which is fully landscaped with indoor features and garden naturally ventilated and lighted, a project where the architect has been encouraged by the Authority
to adopt a imaginative design.
This Council has also taken an active part in contributing
to the squatter
improvement scheme aimed at improving conditions in major squatter area This work, undertaken by the Housing Department, has been successfully tre out in three areas and a 5-year plan to extend this work to other dense populated squatter areas is in hand. The Urban Council is happy to cooperat in this very worthwhile scheme and increase the scope of its services to the
underprivileged squatter population.
Turning to environmental protection, the main breakthrough in 1983 was the passage of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance in April. Subsidiary Regul tions were made in July and the Ordinance itself was brought into force on
October.
On the water side, I am glad to note the introduction of new administratie arrangements for coordinating departments' work on river pollution in the New Territories. I know, too, that Beach Pollution has been made the subject another new initiative. In each case priority targets have been identified and th results of this work should begin to emerge over the next year.
On Noise, the word is that legal drafting has now begun on the Noise Contr Bill. This long-awaited measure, which will be considered by E.P.C.O.M. the year, will complete the quartet of Ordinances which will provide the framework for the control of pollution in the Territory.
The proposed nuclear power station at Daya Bay has aroused considerable interest for economic, political and safety reasons.
E.P.C.O.M. is concerned with the safety factor and the precautions to i taken during construction and after it is in operation. In this connection the Chairman of China Light & Power Co., Lord KADOORIE, stated at the Company's recent Annual General Meeting that the station will be constructed and operated in accordance with the latest international standard. The Chinese Authorities have already employed independent consultants to advise them. Also a firm of experienced and highly qualified architect/engineers will examin this advice in detail on behalf of the Joint Venture Company to ensure the nuclear power station is both clean and safe.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 106 of 194
179
EP.COM. will, of course, continue to monitor progress in the same way as it has done with other large projects affecting the environment of Hong Kong. Committee of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society, who is at this moment I wish now to speak on behalf of Dr. Philip Kwok, Chairman of the General heavily engaged in promoting Hong Kong in the U.S.A., and myself, as Hon. Treasurer of the Society, about the progress of the Phil. Since Dr. Philip Kwok spoke in this debate last year, the Philharmonic Orchestra has made more progress than ever before. In April, an editorial in our major newspapers commented 'Hong Kong people know that if awards were to be distributed for improvement and excellence, the Orchestra deserves that in very large measure'. The standard of performance continues to develop and it is now generally agreed that it is on a par with the best in Asia. This fact was proved beyond subt in April when the Orchestra made a most successful tour to Singapore, Bangkok and the prestigious International Festival of Music in Osaka, where :: appeared alongside such major international orchestras as the Vienna Philharmonic and the National Symphony from Washington D.C.
There can now no longer be any doubt whatever that the Orchestra is a major community asset, supported by all sections of the community. Also in April, the Society launched one of the most ambitious appeal for funds ever in our history. A capital sum of $50 million is being sought to establish an Endowment Fund for the Orchestra which will provide a regular source of annual income. In spite of a less than favourable economic climate, one-quarter of that sum has already been pledged. indicating the importance attached to the Philharmonic by business and commerce.
The image of the Philharmonic has also been developed. Concerts featuring music from the standard symphonic repertoire must and will remain the backbone of the Orchestra's activities. Concerts in the City Hall Concert Hall continue to attract near capacity audiences and to meet the increasing demand for tickets, additional performances will soon have to be considered.
It is in the Council's newer venues of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and the Hong Kong Coliseum, however, that much progress has been made. The pops concert formula has been refined over the last two years and is now generating a vast new audience for the Orchestra. During the Asian Arts Festival two months ago at the Orchestra's debut concert in the Coliseum, 35 000 people turned up to hear 3 performances of symphonic arrangements of music from popular films. Although we are less than half way through the 1983/84 season, the Society's Committee confidently predicts that the number of people attending Philharmonic performances will more than double the total for any previous season--and this means almost a quarter of a million citizens of Hong Kong. To this must be added the hundreds of thousands of others who hear the Orchestra through its regular weekly broadcasts on R.T.H.K. and the 7 commercial gramophone recordings that have been issued over the past twelve
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