1995 — Page 148

Page 148 of 485

Page 148 of 485

Page 148 of 485

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

In the past 10 years, the Council has built and managed many cultural and artistic facilities. Up to now, we have more than 31 libraries, 8 specialized museums, 4 multi-purpose community civic centres, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre with 4 323 seats and City Hall with a capacity of 2 025 seats. In the coming years, we will build the Hong Kong Central Library, the Muscum of History, the Coastal Defence Museum and a Film Archive.

Apart from responsible for managing the above facilities, the Council organizes various cultural activities including concerts, dances, drama shows, film shows, subject exhibitions, talks and Arts Festivals. We also organize various seminars, artistic courses and competitions for people to participate. Since 1977, the Council has established its performing companies. We have wholly funded and managed the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, the Hong Kong Dance Company and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. The Council has also provided funding and venues for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Recently, the Council together with the Regional Council has taken over from the Central Government the work of the Music Office. In 1994/95 financial year. the Council spent over HK$700 million for the above purposes. When compared with the spending of $300 million by the Regional Council and $80 million by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Council in terms of facilities, management system and financial resources is the most comprehensive in Hong Kong. Therefore, the Council's cultural and artistic policy and promotion of programmes has had an important impact to future Hong Kong's cultural development.

We should reaffirm the Council's contributions towards the promotion of culture and art in the past 10 years.

In 1962, the City Hall was built. The Council has since then made efforts to build various kinds of cultural and entertainment facilities. Without the Urban Council, we will not have hardwares or venues.

The Council has since 1977 decided to set up performing companies, film festivals and specialized museums, etc. At that time, amateur organisations dominated the artistic scene. By making the

By making the performing companies professional, the Council has played an important role in enhancing the artistic level.

Should there be no UC, no venue support, no administrative management backup, I think no organization has sufficient resources to present programmes and set in train the diversified development of Hong Kong culture and art. We should affirm the Council's and departmental staff's contributions in the past 10 years in promoting culture and art.

Nevertheless, as a new Councillor, in summing up the Council's work towards the promotion of culture and art, I have identified a number of problems.

First, our direction has been venue-based and hardware oriented. Within the Council, at present three Select Committees, namely, Culture, Museums and

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