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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Museum of History Following the phenomenal success of the 'Dinosaurs from China' exhibition, which attracted over 700,000 visitors, and the known enthusiasm for subjects historical amongst Hong Kong's young people, the Museum's Select Committee has agreed in principle to some interim upgrading for the existing Museum of History in order to provide at modest cost additional space for both permanent exhibits and temporary exhibitions. With this in view, the Architectural Office has been asked to carry out a feasibility study, and report back to the Committee as soon as possible.
A number of successful events were held at the Museum, including the current exhibition on 'Ethnic Costumes of the Miao People' and a photographic competition on 'History in the Making' in support of the International Youth Year. For the forthcoming exhibition on 'Historical Inscriptions of Hong Kong' a series of local history workshops and seminars will be organized for the first time for teachers and students.
A number of research projects are currently in hand, including a three-year project on local puppet theatres, whilst a detailed study and video documentary of the recent Da Chiu ceremony at Yuen Long was commissioned. Meanwhile, planning work for the Folk Museum at Chai Wan is proceeding apace.
Conservation
Conservation services, which are essential for both the Art and History museums, was re-organized and strengthened during the year, and a vacuum conservation chamber, costing nearly $1 million, was approved and is now on order.
Conclusion
In preparation for the major new museums and expanded services and facilities, detailed planning work and reviews over a broad front will need to be undertaken by the Museums Select Committee and its two planning Sub-Committees. As an initial step, a study visit was undertaken of a select number of Art, History and Science Museums in North America by an Urban Council/departmental delegation, and in order to provide better support, the Museums Select Committee has agreed to recruit, internationally, a Museum Director to head the History, Science and Space Museums, and to appoint a specialist assistant for the Science and Space Museum. Advertisements for the Museum Director post have already appeared in North America, the U.K., Australia and locally and the closing date for applications is 1 February 1986.
PART II
H.K. Philharmonic
Over the five years that Dr. Philip Kwok has been Chairman of the Philharmonic Society's General Committee, the determination of those who claimed that Hong Kong needed a professional symphony orchestra has borne fruit. We can claim with complete justification that the Philharmonic contributes in many different ways to the life of our community and is warmly welcomed as an asset by the community.
In the 1984/5 season which ended in July, the number of concerts presented by the Orchestra increased by over 20 per cent to 129—the largest number ever in the Orchestra's history. The number of people attending concerts also increased by over 20 per cent to 250,000. Income from the sale of tickets jumped by 65 per cent and ticket sales revenue accounted for 21 per cent of the budget. At this point, Dr. Kwok thinks it is important to realize that in only two short seasons the total audience has increased by 150 per cent and ticket sales revenue by 230 per cent. These figures compare much more favourably with any other arts organization in Hong Kong and probably also in the world.
Yet, there is always the danger that success in the Arts will result in complacency. By their very nature, the Arts are labour intensive. We have always to remember that success is dependent not only upon artistic and management skills developed to a very high level of professionalism, but also upon the availability of sufficient funding to subsidize what in purely economic terms would be a loss-making enterprise. Any community which decides that it wants to have artistic activities has to accept that someone or some organization must pay for them. This Council is to be congratulated for the foresight which resulted in funding for the Philharmonic Society on a regular and ever-increasing scale. Without the Council's assistance, it is doubtful if there would exist in Hong Kong any form of professional symphony orchestra, let alone one of international standard.
Now, however, at a time when all branches of Government are having to review expenditure, the Council itself is unable to continue to fund the Philharmonic at the same level as in the past. The Philharmonic has been aware for some years that this was likely to happen, and has taken appropriate steps to encourage a greater participation in the financing of the Orchestra from the business and private sectors. Dr. Kwok has already mentioned the major increase in ticket sales revenue. An Endowment Fund was launched in 1983 which quickly brought in donations of almost $15 million. Fund-raising income towards the annual deficit in 85/6 is budgeted at over 200 per cent more than that raised in 84/5. In September last year, the Society commissioned a Report from the Executive Director of American Symphony Orchestra League on the establishment of a full-time Fund Raising Department, and it is expected that this Department will become operational by the summer.
The Society has therefore accepted the need for additional funding to offset both the Orchestra's operating deficits and the further development of the Orchestra which is essential if it is to play its role as the resident orchestra of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui efficiently and effectively. We have looked at the funding of overseas orchestras and have seen that in the United States of America a large part of the operating budget is met by contributions from corporations and individuals. Whilst we are encouraged by
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226
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Museum of History Following the phenomenal success of the 'Dinosaurs from China' exhibition, which attracted over 700 000 visitors, and the known enthusiasm for subjects historical amongst Hong Kong's young people, the Museum's Select Com- mittee has agreed in principle to some interim upgrading for the existing Museum of History in order to provide at modest cost additional space for both permanent exhibits and temporary exhibitions. With this in view, the Architectural Office has been asked to carry out a feasibility study, and report back to the Committee as soon as possible.
A number of successful events were held at the Museum, including the current exhibition on 'Ethnic Costumes of the Miao People' and a photographic competition on 'History in the Making' in support of the International Youth Year. For the forthcoming exhibition on 'Historical Inscriptions of Hong Kong' a series of local history workshops and seminars will be organized for the first time for teachers and students.
A number of research projects are currently in hand, including a
three-year project on local puppet theatres, whilst a detailed study and video documentary of the recent Da Chiu ceremony at Yuen Long was commissioned. Meanwhile, planning work for the Folk Museum at Chai Wan is proceeding apace.
Conservation
Conservation services, which are essential for both the Art and History museums, was re-organized and strengthened during the year, and a vacuum conservation chamber, costing nearly $1 million, was approved and is now on order.
Conclusion
In preparation for the major new museums and expanded services and facilities, detailed planning work and reviews over a braod front will need to be undertaken by the Museums Select Committee and its two planning Sub- Committees. As an initial step, a study visit was undertaken of a select number of Art, History and Science Museums in North America by an Urban Council/departmental delegation, and in order to provide better support, the Museums Select Committee has agreed to recruit, internationally, a Museum Director to head the History, Science and Space Museums, and to appoint a specialist assistant for the Science and Space Museum. Advertizements for the Museum Director post have already appeared in North America, the U.K., Australia and locally and the closing date for applications is 1 February 1986.
PART II
H.K. Philharmonic
Over the five years that Dr. Philip Kwok has been Chairman of the Philharmonic Society's General Committee, the determination of those who
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
claimed that Hong Kong needed a professional symphony orchestra has borne fruit. We can claim with complete justification that the Philharmonic contributes in many different ways to the life of our community and is warmly welcomed as an asset by the community.
In the 1984/5 season which ended in July, the number of concerts presented by
the Orchestra increased by over 20 per cent to 129-the largest number ever in the Orchestra's history. The number of people attending concerts also increased by over 20 per cent to 250 000. Income from the sale of tickets jumped by 65 per cent and ticket sales revenue accounted for 21 per cent of the budget. At this point, Dr. Kwok thinks it is important to realize that in only two short seasons the total audience has increased by 150 per cent and ticket sales revenue by 230 per cent. These figures compare much more favourably with any other arts organization in Hong Kong and probably also in the world.
Yet, there is always the danger that success in the Arts will result in complacency. By their very nature, the Arts are labour intensive. We have always to remember that success is dependent not only upon artistic and management skills developed to a very high level of professionalism, but also upon
the availability of sufficient funding to subsidize what in purely economic terms would be a loss making enterprize. Any community which decides that it wants to have artistic activities has to accept that someone or some organization must pay for them. This Council is to be congratulated for the foresight which resulted in funding for the Philharmonic Society on a regular and ever-increasing scale. Without the Council's assistance, it is doubtful if there would exist in Hong Kong any form of professional symphony orchestra, let alone one of international standard. Now, however, at a time when all branches of Government are having to review expenditure, the Council itself is unable to continue to fund the Philharmonic at the same level as in the past. The Philharmonic has been aware for some years that this was likely to happen, and has taken appropriate steps to encourage a greater participation in the financing of the Orchestra from the business and private sectors. Dr. Kwok has already mentioned the major increase in ticket sales revenue. An Endowment Fund was launched in 1983 which quickly brought in donations of almost $15 million. Fund raising income towards the annual deficit in 85/6 is budgetted at over 200 per cent more than that raised in 84/5. In September last year, the Society commissioned a Report from the Executive Director of American Symphony Orchestra League on the establishment of a full time Fund Raising Department, and it is expected that this Department will become operational by the summer. The Society has therefore accepted the need for additional funding to offset both the Orchestra's operating deficits and the further development of the Orchestra which is essential if it is to play its role as the resident orchestra of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui efficiently and effectively. We have looked at the funding of overseas orchestras and have seen that in the United States of America a large part of the operating budget is met by contributions from corporations and individuals. Whilst we are encouraged by
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