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For the statutory control of slaughterhouse in the urban area upon privatization, the Department has also completed a set of draft Slaughterhouses (UC) By-laws. The draft is now being examined by the Principal Legal Officer of the Council.
In the meantime, in order to establish the financial viability of the abattoir privatization scheme, Finance Branch of Government Secretariat in conjunction with USD has recently completed a financial assessment of the project. The Report concludes that privatization of UC abattoirs is going to generate positive cash flows for the public sector and that DUS should proceed with the necessary negotiations as soon as possible.
The privatization of UC abattoirs is moving ahead slowly and steady progress is being made. Nevertheless, it is expected that the scheme will proceed faster as the negotiations gather speed. Since the negotiations with departments and staff concerned are quite lengthy and complicated, it is difficult to give a firm and binding timetable for the privatization of abattoirs at this stage. Tentatively, the Department is still aiming to have the Kennedy Town Abattoir privatized by the end of 1989 or early 1990. The Council will be consulted on the staffing arrangements and terms for handing over the Kennedy Town Abattoir to the private operator and Council's formal approval will be sought before any firm offer is made.
5.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN asked the following question (in English):-- I understand that the Council is going to do something in the direction of promoting Cantonese opera; what are the details of such exercise?
MR. LO KING-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question deals with the Council's role in the promotion of Cantonese opera.
It is the Council's aim to provide a balanced programme of cultural presentations in the urban area, to suit the interests of different sectors of the community, and Cantonese opera has always featured significantly in this programme. Apart from engaging Cantonese opera groups for its regular year-round programmes, the Council has highlighted Cantonese opera as an art form in major arts festivals or carnivals, such as ‘A Celebration of Hong Kong Artists' and the Mid-Autumn and the Spring Lantern Carnivals. This year in August, a District Cantonese Opera Parade will be organised for the first time, featuring nine district opera groups and more special programmes are being planned.
To further promote Cantonese opera, the Department is currently looking into:
(a) measures to encourage Cantonese opera groups to take up more dates in Council venues for their own presentations;
(b) varying formats for joint presentations of Cantonese opera by the Council in co-operation with selected Cantonese opera groups, which will enable the groups to develop financially; and
(c) promotion of the Ko Shan Theatre as a primary venue for local Cantonese opera groups.
It is hoped that more detailed proposals can be presented to the Council for consideration in the not too distant future.
6. MISS NELLIE FONG asked the following question (in English):—The Urban Council has achieved certain success in upgrading the cultural scene in Hong Kong. Further, the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Centre is a mammoth undertaking which will be completed by late 1989.
I would like to ask what efforts the Urban Council has made to build and create talents in Hong Kong and to promote Hong Kong talents overseas. I have been told by some local artists that it is practically impossible for them to establish a reputation internationally because of the lack of such agents in Hong Kong who can represent them or negotiate for them in the international scene. Hence local artists who are in pursuit of an international reputation will have to leave Hong Kong. Can the Urban Council do something about this? With so much money spent on the hardware and on inviting overseas cultural performers to come to Hong Kong, should the Council not also make some efforts to promote our own local talents both locally and overseas?
MR. LO KING-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the Council's role and efforts in building and creating local talent in the performing arts and in promoting them overseas.
The Council has over the years played a vital role in helping local performing groups and individual artists to develop, by providing them with performing opportunities through its year-round cultural and entertainment programmes, which feature local professional, semi-professional and amateur groups and artists. In 1987-88, over 1,000 programmes were organised featuring some 130 local groups and over 30 individual artists in recitals, covering a whole spectrum of the performing arts. These attracted an estimated audience of 700,000. In addition, the Council gives rental subsidy to eligible non-profit-making organizations hiring the City Hall, the Ko Shan Theatre and the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre for their own cultural presentations. With the completion of more performing venues in the near future, including the Sheung Wan Civic Centre and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Phase II, the Council will be able to present more events featuring local artists and provide them with more performing opportunities.
On the question of creating local talent, which I understand to mean formal training, this is primarily a Central Government responsibility and such work of
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
For the statutory control of slaughterhouse in the urban area upon privati- zation, the Department has also completed a set of draft Slaughterhouses (UC) By-laws. The draft is now being examined by the Principal Legal Officer of the Council.
In the meantime, in order to establish the financial viability of the abattoir privatization scheme, Finance Branch of Government Secretariat in con- junction with USD has recently completed a financial assessment of the project. The Report concludes that privatization of UC abattoirs is going to generate positive cash flows for the public sector and that DUS should proceed with the necessary negotiations as soon as possible.
The privatization of UC abattoirs is moving ahead slowly and steady progress is being made. Nevertheless, it is expected that the scheme will proceed faster as the negotiations gather speed. Since the negotiations with departments and staff concerned are quite lengthy and complicated, it is difficult to give a firm and binding timetable for the privatization of abattoirs at this stage. Tentatively, the Department is still aiming to have the Kennedy Town Abattoir privatized by the end of 1989 or early 1990. The Council will be consulted on the staffing arrangements and terms for handing over the Kennedy Town Abattoir to the private operator and Council's formal approval will be sought before any firm offer is made.
5.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN asked the following question (in English):-- I understand that the Council is going to do something in the direction of promoting Cantonese opera; what are the details of such exercise?
MR. LO KING-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question deals with the Council's role in the promotion of Cantonese opera.
It is the Council's aim to provide a balanced programme of cultural presentations in the urban area, to suit the interests of different sectors of the community, and Cantonese opera has always featured significantly in this programme. Apart from engaging Cantonese opera groups for its regular year-round programmes, the Council has highlighted Cantonese opera as an art form in major arts festivals or carnivals, such as ‘A Celebration of Hong Kong Artists' and the Mid-Autumn and the Spring Lantern Carnivals. This year in August, a District Cantonese Opera Parade will be organised for the first time, featuring nine district opera groups and more special programmes are being planned.
To further promote Cantonese opera, the Department is currently looking into:
(a) measures to encourage Cantonese opera groups to take up more dates in
Council venues for their own presentations;
It
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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33
(b) varying formats for joint presentations of Cantonese opera by the Council in co-operation with selected Cantonese opera groups, which will enable the groups to develop financially; and
(c) promotion of the Ko Shan Theatre as a primary venue for local
Cantonese opera groups.
hoped that more detailed proposals can be presented to the Council for consideration in the not too distant future.
6. MISS NELLIE FONG asked the following question (in English):—The Urban Council has achieved certain success in upgrading the cultural scene in Hong Kong. Further, the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Centre is a mammoth undertaking which will be completed by late 1989.
I would like to ask what efforts the Urban Council has made to build and create talents in Hong Kong and to promote Hong Kong talents overseas. I have been told by some local artists that it is practically impossible for them to establish a reputation internationally because of the lack of such agents in Hong Kong who can represent them or negotiate for them in the international scene. Hence local artists who are in pursuit of an international reputation will have to leave Hong Kong. Can the Urban Council do something about this? With so much money spent on the hardware and on inviting overseas cultural performers to come to Hong Kong, should the Council not also make some efforts to promote our own local talents both locally and overseas?
MR. LO KING-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the Council's role and efforts in building and creating local talent in the performing arts and in promoting them
overseas.
The Council has over the years played a vital role in helping local performing groups and individual artists to develop, by providing them with performing opportunities through its year round cultural and entertainment programmes, which feature local professional, semi-professional and amateur groups and artists. In 1987-88, over 1 000 programmes were organised featuring some 130 local groups and over 30 individual artists in recitals, covering a whole spectrum of the performing arts. These attracted an estimated audience of 700 000. In addition, the Council gives rental subsidy to eligible non-profit making organiz- ations hiring the City Hall, the Ko Shan Theatre and the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre for their own cultural presentations. With the completion of more performing venues in the near future, including the Sheung Wan Civic Centre and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Phase II, the Council will be able to present more events featuring local artists and provide them with more performing opportunities.
On the question of creating local talent, which I understand to mean formal training, this is primarily a Central Government responsibility and such work of
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