Page 224 of 235
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. FREDERICK FUNG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, the figures actually are readily available in our annual report. Let me take the example of last year, when we have the Royal Ballet from England and also the Philharmonic Orchestra from New York, we did not have a deficit, in fact, we managed to gain some revenue from it. So, in other words, even if we ask overseas groups to come, it does not mean that we will have to spend more and whereas local groups may sometimes need a greater subsidy. On the other hand, in the Hong Kong Coliseum, we have a very big auditorium and, therefore, we can accommodate more people and we can increase our revenue. So please do not just presume that overseas groups will take up more of the Council's money. As to the audience, from my own experience, I find that if we have overseas groups, then we will have a lot of local expatriates and their families attending such programmes, whereas our Chinese Orchestra, for instance, appeals more to local people. To sum up, overseas groups tend to appeal to both Chinese and westerners in Hong Kong, but we have not really done a survey and we cannot take this for a fact.
MRS. MARGARET LI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, from the reply, we talk about the guidelines, high artistic standards and also the appeal to the audience, now how do you assess these criteria?
MR. FREDERICK FUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as to high artistic standard, of course, it can be rather subjective and yet there are objective standard as well. Now apart from the Council through the department asking for advice from consultants to assess the standard of the groups, we also invite overseas consultants from both Europe, south East Asia and America and they would try to identify good groups in those places. If they feel that they will appeal to the Hong Kong audience and if it is something new or it is worth bringing it to the Hong Kong audience, then we will invite such groups to come.
2. MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU asked the following question (in Cantonese):-- The Culture Select Committee decided to eliminate some auditoria in UC market complex last year, what plans have been initiated to replace and cater for local needs? When can such plans be made known to the public?
MR. FREDERICK K. K. FUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns plans on the provision of auditoria to cater for local needs and the disclosure of such plans to the public.
In March and April 1984, the Culture Select Committee reviewed the overall provision of cultural centres in the urban area. After considering the needs of various districts, locations of available sites and the Council's financial situation, it was decided that small cultural centres, each with a 400–500 seat auditorium be provided in the following five Urban Council Complexes:----
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(a) Ngau Chi Wan in Wong Tai Sin, (b) Western District,
(c) Sai Yee Street in Mong Kok, (d) Sham Shui Po and,
(e) Hung Hom in Kowloon City.
389
The Culture Select Committee further agreed that feasibility studies be conducted on the provision of a larger free-standing cultural centre in Northeast Kowloon and in Chai Wan and/or a small cultural centre in the Urban Council Sai Wan Ho Complex in Eastern District.
These cultural centres under planning or study, coupled with existing facilities and those under construction, will provide an even spread of performing venues sufficient to meet the needs of all urban districts.
The above plans have been included in the Council's District Works Programme for regular consultation with District Boards. The plan to provide the five small cultural centres in Urban Council Complexes has already been publicized, for example, in the City News. The feasibility studies on cultural centres in Kwun Tong and Eastern District are well under way and reports are expected to be ready for discussion by the Culture Select Committee in the near future. The outcome of the studies will then be made known to the public.
MR. STEPHEN LAU (in Cantonese):--One question, Mr. Chairman, in the near future we will have feasibility studies on the two cultural centres in Eastern District and Kwun Tong, when you say in the near future does it mean 6 months or 10 years?
MR. FREDERICK FUNG (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, feasibility studies are very difficult for us to set a definite date, but I think it will be done within this year. I am sure a report will be handed to the Culture Select Committee within this year.
3. MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—
What is the Urban Council's present and future plan for providing library services in Wan Chai and Eastern Districts? Are there to be any libraries in Shau Kei Wan and Causeway Bay as there are about 80 000 people living in each area.
MRS. E. ELLIOTt, Chairman of the Libraries Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the provision of library facilities in the Wan Chai and Eastern Districts.
The Council's policy is to provide a district library of 1 500 m2 for every 200 000 people. As far as possible, all permanent libraries will be housed in Council buildings and the intention is to phase out interim libraries on rented premises.
Page 224 of 235
Page 224 of 235
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. FREDERICK FUNG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, the figures actually are readily available in our annual report. Let me take the example of last year, when we have the Royal Ballet from England and also the Philharmonic Orchestra from New York, we did not have a deficit, in fact, we managed to gain some revenue from it. So, in other words, even if we ask overseas groups to come, it does not mean that we will have to spend more and whereas local groups may sometimes need a greater subsidy. On the other hand, in the Hong Kong Coliseum, we have a very big auditorium and, therefore, we can accommodate more people and we can increase our revenue. So please do not just presume that overseas groups will take up more of the Council's money. As to the audience, from my own experience, I find that if we have overseas groups, then we will have a lot of local expatriates and their families attending such programmes, whereas our Chinese Orchestra, for instance, appeals more to local people. To sum up, overseas groups tend to appeal to both Chinese and westerners in Hong Kong, but we have not really done a survey and we cannot take this for a fact.
MRS. MARGARET LI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, from the reply, we talk about the guidelines, high artistic standards and also the appeal to the audience, now how do you assess these criteria?
MR. FREDERICK FUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as to high artistic standard, of course, it can be rather subjective and yet there are objective standard as well. Now apart from the Council through the department asking for advice from consultants to assess the standard of the groups, we also invite overseas consultants from both Europe, south East Asia and America and they would try to identify good groups in those places. If they feel that they will appeal to the Hong Kong audience and if it is something new or it is worth bringing it to the Hong Kong audience, then we will invite such groups to come.
2. MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU asked the following question (in Cantonese):-- The Culture Select Committee decided to eliminate some auditoria in UC market complex last year, what plans have been initiated to replace and cater for local needs? When can such plans be made known to the public?
MR. FREDERICK K. K. FUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns plans on the provision of auditoria to cater for local needs and the disclosure of such plans to the public.
In March and April 1984, the Culture Select Committee reviewed the overall provision of cultural centres in the urban area. After considering the needs of various districts, locations of available sites and the Council's financial situation, it was decided that small cultural centres, each with a 400–500 seat auditorium be provided in the following five Urban Council Complexes:----
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(a) Ngau Chi Wan in Wong Tai Sin, (b) Western District,
(c) Sai Yee Street in Mong Kok, (d) Sham Shui Po and,
(e) Hung Hom in Kowloon City.
389
The Culture Select Committee further agreed that feasibility studies be conducted on the provision of a larger free-standing cultural centre in Northeast Kowloon and in Chai Wan and/or a small cultural centre in the Urban Council Sai Wan Ho Complex in Eastern District.
These cultural centres under planning or study, coupled with existing facilities and those under construction, will provide an even spread of performing venues sufficient to meet the needs of all urban districts.
The above plans have been included in the Council's District Works Programme for regular consultation with District Boards. The plan to provide the five small cultural centres in Urban Council Complexes has already been publicized, for example, in the City News. The feasibility studies on cultural centres in Kwun Tong and Eastern District are well under way and reports are expected to be ready for discussion by the Culture Select Committee in the near future. The outcome of the studies will then be made known to the public.
MR. STEPHEN LAU (in Cantonese):--One question, Mr. Chairman, in the near future we will have feasibility studies on the two cultural centres in Eastern District and Kwun Tong, when you say in the near future does it mean 6 months or 10 years?
MR. FREDERICK FUNG (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, feasibility studies are very difficult for us to set a definite date, but I think it will be done within this I am sure a report will be handed to the Culture Select Committee within
year. this year.
3. MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—
What is the Urban Council's present and future plan for providing library services in Wan Chai and Eastern Districts? Are there to be any libraries in Shau Kei Wan and Causeway Bay as there are about 80 000 people living in each area.
MRS. E. ELLIOTt, Chairman of the Libraries Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the provision of library facilities in the Wan Chai and Eastern Districts.
The Council's policy is to provide a district library of 1 500 m2 for every 200 000 people. As far as possible, all permanent libraries will be housed in Council buildings and the intention is to phase out interim libraries on rented premises.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.