1995 — Page 388

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 388 of 485

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

101

groups also focuses on the 3 Council-managed and 1 directly-funded professional performing group.

MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is difficult for me to answer this question as I do not understand what is meant by the word 'priority' as mentioned by Mr. CHAN. If it means that whenever there is any application from local performing groups, we would not consider any applications from overseas groups, and that we would only consider overseas applications after the local ones, then we do not have such practice. What we take into consideration is the form or nature of the programme. Therefore, I do not understand what 'priority' is referring to. This is my reply to the first part of the question. As for my reply to the second part of the question, I would like to add a few words. There is a small difference between total expenditures on overseas and local performing groups, but if we look at the figures, we will see that there were 655 performances staged by local performing groups. In other words, besides financial consideration, the number of performances should also be taken into account. I think at present, the Culture Select Committee do have a policy when considering applications. Local performing groups do not have precedence over overseas groups. What we do is to try to attain a balanced arrangement.

MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is mentioned in paragraph 4 of the reply that the 4 performing groups supported by the Council are the most representative groups in Hong Kong and that it is the responsibility of the Council to help them to attain international standard. I would like to ask from what source do we know they are the most representative performing groups in Hong Kong, and on what basis do we judge whether or not these groups have attained international level?

MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, concerning the status of these 4 performing groups, I think those who have paid some attention to the cultural performances will not doubt their representativeness. Of course, there are also other performing groups in Hong Kong, such as the ballet company and other groups; but what I just said was their representativeness in the 4 respective forms of art. As to why the Urban Council did not subsidise 10 instead of 4 forms of art, apart from their representativeness, there is also a historical element to this. We are just continuing the work that the Council has been doing in the past in promoting such cultural activities. As regards the criteria for assessing their standard to see whether they have attained international level, I believe when we look back at the comments they received for their performances overseas in the past, we can see that although they are not the world's top performing groups, they are of very high international standard. We should recognize this judging from the facts in the past.

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Page 388 of 485 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 101 groups also focuses on the 3 Council-managed and 1 directly-funded professional performing group. MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is difficult for me to answer this question as I do not understand what is meant by the word 'priority' as mentioned by Mr. CHAN. If it means that whenever there is any application from local performing groups, we would not consider any applications from overseas groups, and that we would only consider overseas applications after the local ones, then we do not have such practice. What we take into consideration is the form or nature of the programme. Therefore, I do not understand what 'priority' is referring to. This is my reply to the first part of the question. As for my reply to the second part of the question, I would like to add a few words. There is a small difference between total expenditures on overseas and local performing groups, but if we look at the figures, we will see that there were 655 performances staged by local performing groups. In other words, besides financial consideration, the number of performances should also be taken into account. I think at present, the Culture Select Committee do have a policy when considering applications. Local performing groups do not have precedence over overseas groups. What we do is to try to attain a balanced arrangement. MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is mentioned in paragraph 4 of the reply that the 4 performing groups supported by the Council are the most representative groups in Hong Kong and that it is the responsibility of the Council to help them to attain international standard. I would like to ask from what source do we know they are the most representative performing groups in Hong Kong, and on what basis do we judge whether or not these groups have attained international level? MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, concerning the status of these 4 performing groups, I think those who have paid some attention to the cultural performances will not doubt their representativeness. Of course, there are also other performing groups in Hong Kong, such as the ballet company and other groups; but what I just said was their representativeness in the 4 respective forms of art. As to why the Urban Council did not subsidise 10 instead of 4 forms of art, apart from their representativeness, there is also a historical element to this. We are just continuing the work that the Council has been doing in the past in promoting such cultural activities. As regards the criteria for assessing their standard to see whether they have attained international level, I believe when we look back at the comments they received for their performances overseas in the past, we can see that although they are not the world's top performing groups, they are of very high international standard. We should recognize this judging from the facts in the past. Page 388 of 485 Page 388 of 485

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Page 388 of 485 Page 388 of 485 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 101 groups also focuses on the 3 Council-managed and 1 directly-funded professional performing group. MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, it is difficult for me to answer this question as I do not understand what is meant by the word 'priority' as mentioned by Mr. CHAN. If it means that whenever there is any application from local performing groups, we would not consider any applications from overseas groups, and that we would only consider overseas applications after the local ones, then we do not have such practice. What we take into consideration is the form or nature of the programme. Therefore, I do not understand what 'priority' is referring to. This is my reply to the first part of the question. As for my reply to the second part of the question, I would like to add a few words. There is a small difference between total expenditures on overseas and local performing groups, but if we look at the figures, we will see that there were 655 performances staged by local performing groups. In other words, besides financial consideration, the number of performances should also be taken into account. I think at present, the Culture Select Committee do have a policy when considering applications. Local performing groups do not have precedence over overseas groups. What we do is to try to attain a balanced arrangement. MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is mentioned in paragraph 4 of the reply that the 4 performing groups supported by the Council are the most representative groups in Hong Kong and that it is the responsibility of the Council to help them to attain international standard. I would like to ask from what source do we know they are the most representative performing groups in Hong Kong, and on what basis do we judge whether or not these groups have attained international level? MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning the status of these 4 performing groups. I think those who have paid some attention to the cultural performances will not doubt their representativeness. Of course, there are also other performing groups in Hong Kong, such as the ballet company and other groups; but what I just said was their representativeness in the 4 respective forms of art. As to why the Urban Council did not subsidise 10 instead of 4 forms of art, apart from their representativeness, there is also a historical element to this. We are just continuing the work that the Council has been doing in the past in promoting such cultural activities. As regards the criteria for assessing their standard to see whether they have attained international level, I believe when we look back at the comments they received for their performances overseas in the past, we can see that although they are not the world's top performing groups, they are of very high international standard. We should recognize this judging from the facts in the past. Page 388 of 485 Page 388 of 485

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Page 388 of 485

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

101

groups also focuses on the 3 Council-managed and 1 directly-funded professional performing group.

MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, it is difficult for me to answer this question as I do not understand what is meant by the word 'priority' as mentioned by Mr. CHAN. If it means that whenever there is any application from local performing groups, we would not consider any applications from overseas groups, and that we would only consider overseas applications after the local ones, then we do not have such practice. What we take into consideration is the form or nature of the programme. Therefore, I do not understand what 'priority' is referring to. This is my reply to the first part of the question. As for my reply to the second part of the question, I would like to add a few words. There is a small difference between total expenditures on overseas and local performing groups, but if we look at the figures, we will see that there were 655 performances staged by local performing groups. In other words, besides financial consideration, the number of performances should also be taken into account. I think at present, the Culture Select Committee do have a policy when considering applications. Local performing groups do not have precedence over overseas groups. What we do is to try to attain a balanced arrangement.

MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning the status of these 4 performing groups. I think those who have paid some attention to the cultural performances will not doubt their representativeness. Of course, there are also other performing groups in Hong Kong, such as the ballet company and other groups; but what I just said was their representativeness in the 4 respective forms of art. As to why the Urban Council did not subsidise 10 instead of 4 forms of art, apart from their representativeness, there is also a historical element to this. We are just continuing the work that the Council has been doing in the past in promoting such cultural activities. As regards the criteria for assessing their standard to see whether they have attained international level, I believe when we look back at the comments they received for their performances overseas in the past, we can see that although they are not the world's top performing groups, they are of very high international standard. We should recognize this judging from the facts in the past.

1995 — Page 388

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