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complacent, conservative and afraid of changes in policy. Let me give an example. After the Urban Council unanimously approved the drafting of the Five-Year Plan in promoting culture and art in July 1995, I, on behalf of the Democratic Party, moved a motion to set up an 'Inter-Select Committee Working Group on the Five-Year Plan of Culture and Art' so as to review the policy and to formulate the strategy concerned. However, my motion was rejected. As an alternative, I requested to set up a research fund and to employ independent researchers to provide independent and professional opinions on the existing incoherent policy of culture and art. However, it was also rejected. As a result, review can only be conducted within the original frame of bureaucracy. Proposals were made by the cultural staff with strenuous effort, but only to earn criticisms.
Mr. Chairman, 'Water can let a boat float but it can also make it capsize.' Whether bureaucracy is good or bad wholly depends on how we decide on the responsibility it should bear in respect of the characteristics of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is originally an administrative system. The characteristics of stability and reliability are well suited for the execution of policy with clear objectives. However, work such as programming and formulation of the direction of cultural policy which should be done by the artistic and cultural workers is now taken up by the bureaucrats. The cultural staff are required to do what they should not do and what they are incapable of doing. We stress the importance of division of labour in a bid to stop bureaucrats from taking the lead in the development of culture and art.
The workers of culture and art put great emphasis on the freedom of creation, personal perspective and the commitment towards the society. This is exactly the limit beyond which the bureaucratic structure cannot bear. Many cultural bureaucrats of the Urban Council are enthusiastic towards the work of culture and art, and they have lofty ideals which cannot be realized within the confines of bureaucracy. If they want to obtain higher personal achievement, to leave the government is almost the only choice under the present system.
The Hong Kong Film Archive Office is a good example. Until now, the cultural bureaucrats are responsible for most of the planning work. Under the restriction of the existing structure, they are incapable of and discouraged from specializing in the work of the Film Archive in the long term so that they can make good use of their rich experience. Under the present system, an officer who is highly experienced in the work of the Film Archive has to leave his post in 3 to 5 years' time. Similarly, an incapable head of the Film Archive can only be replaced in 3 to 5 years' time. In the lack of professional and artistic leadership, up till now it is still unable to spell out the specific objectives and perspective for the Film Archive which can contribute to the Hong Kong film industry. This is the inevitable outcome when art is led by the bureaucrats.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (hereinafter called the Film Festival) is another example. The reason why it can enjoy international reputation and is regarded as the most important film festival in Asia is that film selection freedom
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complacent. conservative and afraid of changes in policy. Let me give an example. After the Urban Council unanimously approved the drafting of the Five-Year Plan in promoting culture and art in July 1995, 1, on behalf of the Democratic Party. move a motion to set up an 'Inter-Select Committee Working Group on the Five- Year Plan of Culture and Art' so as to review the policy and to formulate the strategy concerned. However, my motion was rejected. As an alternative, I requested to set up a research fund and to employ independent researchers to provide independent and professional opinions on the existing incoherent policy of culture and art. However, it was also rejected. As a result, review can only be conducted within the original frame of bureaucracy. Proposals were made by the cultural staff with strenuous effort, but only to earn criticisms.
Mr. Chairman, 'Water can let a boat float but it can also make it capsize.' Whether bureaucracy is good or bad wholly depends on how we decide on the responsibility it should bear in respect of the characteristics of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is originally an administrative system. The characteristics of stability and reliability are well suited for the execution of policy with clear objectives. However, work such as programming and formulation of the direction of cultural policy which should be done by the artistic and cultural workers is now taken up by the bureaucrats. The cultural staff are required to do what they should not do and what they are incapable of doing. We stress the importance of division of labour in a bid to stop bureaucrats from taking the lead in the development of culture and art.
The workers of culture and art put great emphasis on the freedom of creation, personal perspective and the commitment towards the society. This is exactly the limit beyond which the bureaucratic structure cannot bear. Many cultural bureaucrats of the Urban Council are enthusiastic towards the work of culture and art, and they have lofty ideals which cannot be realized within the confines of bureaucracy. If they want to obtain higher personal achievement, to leave the government is almost the only choice under the present system.
The Hong Kong Film Archive Office is a good example. Until now, the cultural bureaucrats are responsible for most of the planning work. Under the restriction of the existing structure, they are incapable of and discouraged from specializing in the work of the Film Archive in the long term so that they can make good use of their rich experience. Under the present system, an officer who is highly experienced in the work of the Film Archive has to leave his post in 3 to 5 years' time. Similarly, an incapable head of the Film Archive can only be replaced in 3 to 5 years' time. In the lack of professional and artistic leadership, up till now it is still unable to spell out the specific objectives and perspective for the Film Archive which can contribute to the Hong Kong film industry. This is the inevitable outcome when art is led by the bureaucrats.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (hereinafter called the Film Festival) is another example. The reason why it can enjoy international reputation and is regarded as the most important film festival in Asia is that film selection freedom
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