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basis of the present expanded present Council for the Performing Arts or under different specialist council should be a subject to be determined after careful study of the needs as expressed by the various arts community in these different arts forms during this period of consultation. But one particular point must be stressed here that impression must not be given that the resources to be developed to this valid development will only be limited to the present extent of resources that the Central Government has been found able to devote. A Government must be willing to commit funds and also in fact commit increased funds centrally for the purpose of developing and nurturing young talents. In this connection, the present extent of arts education provided for the children and the young should be increased. The awareness on appreciation of the arts must be much more strongly emphasized and promoted in schools. Unfortunately the present report did not make a very positive stand in this attitude in the first place. Therefore the present controversy regarding the Music Office arises from the lack of clarity and the categorical positive statement on this commitment. If it had been made first of all very clear that the work of the Music Office and the nature of the services provided by it will be continued whether it is taken up by the APA or other non-government organizations, will then be a matter to be debated on its merits rather than as now the Report itself unfortunately generated doubts and therefore fear that the present provisions will disappear. I think it should be made clear that in whatever future arrangements for the work of the Music Office to be continued, the basic principle must be that opportunities for instrumental training and group music making activities must be maintained for children of all income groups. And for this reason it must be made clear that the level of cost to the parents and to families across the whole of our community must remain at the level compatible to the present Music Office charges. Again, if this had been a policy and made clear then the present controversy might have been removed. Also in this connection, regional centres should be retained for the convenience of all the parents and the children undertaking such training. The Government, several years ago, against the advice of this Council, decided to establish two rather than one Municipal Council. Therefore if any single Municipal Council takes over this job, it may dilute the effectiveness of its regional accessibility if the two Municipal Councils do not see parallel and coordinated action.
Finally, in connection with the issue of Music Office, if it had stated categorically in the Policy Review document that it is not meant to be purely a cost saving exercise that if the work undertaken by any other organizations will be given reasonable continuing level of resource support, then again I would suggest that the present controversy on the issue might have been avoided.
Finally, while it should be that all our wish to devote more effort to encourage private sector sponsorship, we must not harbour unrealistic hopes and illusions and must not avoid responsibility as a public organization. In this connection, both Municipal Councils and Central Government, the Recreation and Culture Branch have equal responsibility. Given the present low incentive and short term fast-return commercial objective of the private sector, they are not to be blamed, I mean because of the Hong Kong's environment of political uncertainty, we must accept that it is a difficult task to rely on private support. Thank you.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the relationship between the Recreation and Culture Branch and the Urban Council is most disappointing. First, we have the incident of the redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium and we have to fight for it before we were consulted. The original intention was to let the redeveloped Hong Kong Stadium to be managed by the Sports Development Board. We regained our management rights after vigorous fight. And now we have this Arts Policy Review Report. In the beginning it was regarded as an internal review paper. The report touches on many areas of the work of the Urban Council in terms of culture. We have not been consulted when the report was drafted. After the report was completed, it was originally submitted for Executive Council's decision. Only after repeated urge by Councillors, then the Council is being consulted. The Recreation and Culture Branch has ignored the Council and its dictatorial style work is most disappointing. It is up to the Branch to change its bureaucratic style and also its dictatorial style so that it will give due respect to the two Municipal Councils, that are statutory bodies. Chapter 3 of the Report suggests that an Arts Council be set up so that advice would be given to the Government with regard to the development of performing arts, visual arts and literary arts. The future Arts Council includes representatives of the two Municipal Councils in order to maintain liaison. I read the Report from cover to cover but there is no mention of the composition or the terms of reference of the Arts Council. Some inklings indicate that the future Arts Council appointed by the Government will certainly formulate policy with regard to the relevant arts in Hong Kong. Although the Hong Kong Government has been saying that they will remain neutral with regard to arts policy, it is doubtful whether the appointed Arts Council may be controlled by the Recreation and Culture Branch behind the scene. The appointed Arts Council will have to be accountable to the Government and not to the public at large. This certainly is a retrogressive step. I doubt whether there is true freedom with regard to the future development of the Arts Council. This Arts Council will be the supreme arts body in Hong Kong and will be superior to the two Municipal Councils with regard to arts policy, thus making the two Municipal Councils the subsidiary of a non-statutory Arts Council. That goes directly against the democratic policy advocated by the Governor, Mr. PATTEN. Why is it that the Recreation and Culture Branch keeps under wraps the terms of reference of the Arts Council. That is a dear trick. The public is not consulted on that. Is this to pave the way for the Arts Council to become the overlord with regard to arts policy. If that is the case, that will be tantamount to allowing a community arts body to control community arts. That is indeed a tactic. If the Arts Council and the two Municipal Councils do not have the areas of work in arts clearly delineated, there will be duplication of work and vicious competition that will not be to the benefit of the public at large. Mr. Chairman, if we do not have information on the composition and the terms of reference of the Arts Council and if we are not to be consulted, then in order to safeguard the interest of the Hong Kong people we should have reservations on or we should oppose the setting of the Arts Council. If the Government still goes ahead with setting up the Arts Council, we should not then send any representatives to the Council.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
With regard to literary arts whether we talk about Government subsidy or promotion, well the Government did very little in the past. Hong Kong managed to strip off its image of cultural desert. Our libraries did not dare to claim the biggest credit but then we play our part. The City Hall Library, the first library of the Urban Council was set up in 1962. Since then we have set up 30 libraries including one Central Library and a specialist Arts Library. For library stocks in 1962, there stood 180 000 but now it reached 8.2 million while registered readers stand at 1.85 million. And we also promote reading among the public. Starting from 1984 we encouraged extra curriculum reading among youngsters and we had seminars and meetings with local writers. At present we only have some 80 000 members who have read 1.2 titles including many literary works. With regard to promoting the appreciation of literary works starting from 1989, we have been co-operating with various literary bodies. Every month we have a literary meeting on special topics and these meetings are very popular with those who are interested in this area. We have been inviting experts from overseas to organize seminars. Because of political reasons, writers and experts from Taiwan and China have not been invited to attend our literature seminar. This is indeed an imperfection. In future we should put aside the political factors and we should look at pure artistic grounds so that in Hong Kong more people will get to know how to appreciate literary works and have their lives enriched. Starting from 1979, every year we have been organising the creative Chinese literary competition and also the creative Chinese literature competition for children. Mr. MAN Sai-Cheong referred to a bi-annual competition. There was in fact another competition and not this creative Chinese literary competition. Mr. MAN was in fact referring to the Hong Kong bi-annual awards for Chinese literature. All the winning entries are compiled in the titles. At present we already have 57 titles of literary works. More than 780 000 copies were sold. In order to recognize the outstanding achievements of the writers starting from 1991 every two years, we have the Hong Kong bi-annual awards for Chinese literature with four sections, fictions, poems, contemporary poetry and children's literature. This year we will have the second bi-annual awards. Starting from 1982 we have been organizing every year the Hong Kong best produced books award in order to give due recognition to the achievements of the publishers and printers in Hong Kong. The winning entries are not only displayed in Hong Kong book fairs, but are also displayed in overseas book fairs. Up to now, we have already presented some 222 awards. These awards are welcome news to those who are interested in the area. We have now been promoting library extensive activities and we are trying to computerize the library services. We will be constructing the Central Library on Hong Kong Island and will be expanding the reference and information services. These improvements to basic facilities will certainly help
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 20 of 132
Page 20 of 132
37
36
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
basis of the present expanded present Council for the Performing Arts or under different specialist council should be a subject to be determined after careful study of the needs as expressed by the various arts community in these different arts forms during this period of consultation. But one particular point must be stressed here that impression must not be given that the resources to be developed to this valid development will only be limited to the present extent of resources that the Central Government has been found able to devote. A Government must be willing to commit funds and also in fact commit increased funds centrally for the purpose of developing and nurturing young talents. In this connection, the present extent of arts education provided for the children and the young should be increased. The awareness on appreciation of the arts must be much more strongly emphasized and promoted in schools. Unfortunately the present report did not make a very positive stand in this attitude in the first place. Therefore the present controversy regarding the Music Office arises from the lack of clarity and the categorical positive statement on this commitment. If it had been made first of all very clear that the work of the Music Office and the nature of the services provided by it will be continued whether it is taken up by the APA or other non-government organizations, will then be a matter to be debated on its merits rather than as now the Report itself unfortunately generated doubts and therefore fear that the present provisions will disappear. I think it should be made clear that in whatever future arrangements for the work of the Music Office to be continued, the basic principle must be that opportunities for instrumental training and group music making activities must be maintained for children of all income groups. And for this reason it must be made clear that the level of cost to the parents and to families across the whole of our community must remain at the level compatible to the present Music Office charges. Again, if this had been a policy and made clear then the present controversy might have been removed. Also in this connection, regional centres should be retained for the convenience of all the parents and the children undertaking such training. The Government, several years ago, against the advice of this Council, decided to establish two rather than one Municipal Council. Therefore if any single Municipal Council takes over this job, it may dilute the effectiveness of its regional accessibility if the two Municipal Councils do not see parallel and coordinated action.
Finally, in connection with the issue of Music Office, if it had stated categorically in the Policy Review document that it is not meant to be purely a cost saving exercise that if the work undertaken by any other organizations will be given reasonable continuing level of resource support, then again I would suggest that the present controversy on the issue might have been avoided.
Finally, while it should be that all our wish to devote more effort to encourage private sector sponsorship, we must not harbour unrealistic hopes and illusions and must not avoid responsibility as a public organization. In this connection, both Municipal Councils and Central Government, the Recreation and Culture Branch have equal responsibility. Given the present low incentive and short term fast-return commercial objective of the private sector, they are
Page 20 of 132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
not to be blamed, I mean because of the Hong Kong's environment of political uncertainty, we must accept that it is a difficult task to rely on private support. Thank you.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the relationship between the Recreation and Culture Branch and the Urban Council is most disappointing. First, we have the incident of the redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium and we have to fight for it before we were consulted. The original intention was to let the redeveloped Hong Kong Stadium to be managed by the Sports Development Board. We regained our management rights after vigorous fight. And now we have this Arts Policy Review Report. In the beginning it was regarded as an internal review paper. The report touches on many areas of the work of the Urban Council in terms of culture. We have not been consulted when the report was drafted. After the report was completed, it was originally submitted for Executive Council's decision. Only after repeated urge by Councillors, then the Council is being consulted. The Recreation and Culture Branch has ignored the Council and its dictatorial style work is most disappointing. It is up to the Branch to change its bureaucratic style and also its dictatorial style so that it will give due respect to the two Municipal Councils, that are statutory bodies. Chapter 3 of the Report suggests that an Arts Council be set up so that advice would be given to the Government with regard to the development of performing arts, visual arts and literary arts. The future Arts Council includes representatives of the two Municipal Councils in order to maintain liaison. I read the Report from cover to cover but there is no mention of the composition or the terms of reference of the Arts Council. Some inklings indicate that the future Arts Council appointed by the Government will certainly formulate policy with regard to the relevant arts in Hong Kong. Although the Hong Kong Government has been saying that they will remain neutral with regard to arts policy, it is doubtful whether the appointed Arts Council may be controlled by the Recreation and Culture Branch behind the scene. The appointed Arts Council will have to be accountable to the Government and not to the public at large. This certainly is a retrogressive step. I doubt whether there is true freedom with regard to the future development of the Arts Council. This Arts Council will be the supreme arts body in Hong Kong and will be superior to the two Municipal Councils with regard to arts policy, thus making the two Municipal Councils the subsidiary of a non-statutory Arts Council. That goes directly against the democratic policy adovcated by the Governor, Mr. PATTEN. Why is it that the Recreation and Culture Branch keeps under wraps the terms of reference of the Arts Council. That is a dear trick. The public is not consulted on that. Is this to pave the way for the Arts Council to become the overlord with regard to arts policy. If that is the case, that will be tantamount to allowing a community arts body to control community arts. That is indeed a tactic. If the Arts Council and the two Municipal Councils do not have the areas of work in arts clearly delineated, there will be duplication of work and vicious competition that will not be to the benefit of the public at large. Mr. Chairman, if we do not have
Page 20 of 132
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
information on the composition and the terms of reference of the Arts Council and if we are not to be consulted, then in order to safeguard the interest of the Hong Kong people we should have reservations on or we should oppose the setting of the Arts Council. If the Government still goes ahead with setting up the Arts Council, we should not then send any representatives to the Council. With regard to literary arts whether we talk about Government subsidy or promotion, well the Government did very little in the past. Hong Kong managed to strip off its image of cultural desert. Our libraries did not dare to claim the biggest credit but then we play our part. The City Hall Library, the first library of the Urban Council was set up in 1962. Since then we have set up 30 libraries including one Central Library and a specialist Arts Library. For library stocks in 1962, there stood 180 000 but now it reached 8.2 million while registered readers stand at 1.85 million. And we also promote reading among the public. Starting from 1984 we encouraged extra curriculum reading among youngsters and we had seminars and meetings with local writers. At present we only have some 80 000 members who have read 1.2 titles including many literary works. With regard to promoting the appreciation of literary works starting from 1989, we have been co-operating with various literary bodies. Every month we have a literary meeting on special topics and these meetings are very popular with those who are interested in this area. We have been inviting experts from overseas to organize seminars. Because of political reasons, writers and experts from Taiwan and China have not been invited to attend our literature seminar. This is indeed an imperfection. In future we should put aside the political factors and we should look at pure artistic grounds so that in Hong Kong more people will get to know how to appreciate literary works and have their lives enriched. Starting from 1979, every year we have been organising the creative Chinese literary competition and also the creative Chinese literature competition for children. Mr. MAN Sai-Cheong referred to a bi-annual competition. There was in fact another competition and not this creative Chinese literary competition. Mr. MAN was in fact referring to the Hong Kong bi-annual awards for Chinese literature. All the winning entries are compiled in the titles. At present we already have 57 titles of literary works. More than 780 000 copies were sold. In order to recognize the outstanding achievements of the writers starting from 1991 every two years, we have the Hong Kong bi-annual awards for Chinese literature with four sections, fictions, poems, contemporary poetry and children's literature. This year we will have the second bi-annual awards. Starting from 1982 we have been organizing every year the Hong Kong best produced books award in order to give due recognition to the achievements of the publishers and printers in Hong Kong. The winning entries are not only displayed in Hong Kong book fairs, but are also displayed in overseas book fairs. Up to now, we have already presented some 222 awards. These awards are welcome news to those who are interested in the area. We have now been promoting library extensive activities and we are trying to computerize the library services. We will be constructing the Central Library on Hong Kong Island and will be expanding the reference and information services. These improvements to basic facilities will certainly help
Page 21 of 132
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