HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I think that apart from providing such facilities, Urban Council can play a more important role by introducing a set of irrigation plans for the development of art.
When we were visiting Vancouver, we discussed with officials there on how to promote arts. I was deeply impressed by the active approach of the government there towards the promotion of art and culture. The officials pointed out that adequate cultural facilities were prerequisites for the promotion of art and culture within the community. They were of the opinion that development in this aspect would enhance economic growth by attracting visitors and businessmen, and that it would help achieve social growth by enhancing the qualities of the people. To them, therefore, it was important to have sufficient venues for artists to participate and display their works. When we visited the Central Library in Vancouver, we realized even more deeply how they were implementing this policy. Wherever we went, along each corridor and in each corner of the Library, we saw works of art on display. It impressed upon the public that art and culture were a part of their daily lives. In fact, the whole city was actively opening up more space in public places for artists to display their works and to build up a larger spectator base.
Mr. Chairman, the Council has always spared no efforts in the promotion of art and culture. Other than providing venues and sponsoring activities, I look forward to its taking up an even more important role in providing impetus and direction to artists and actively promoting the irrigation plan. I hope the Council will allocate more space in its venues for displaying works of art to the benefit of artists and their appreciators. With these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN (in Cantonese): I am very much in support of this motion. I feel that the cultural qualities of our citizens in Hong Kong, an international metropolitan city, should be brought up to the level of other international cities. In many overseas cities, whatever their size, citizens have made a habit of visiting museums. It has become a part of their lives to go to the cinema, opera house or music hall. Unfortunately for us, as just pointed out by The Hon. Mok Ying-fan, many of our citizens have never visited a museum to see the collection there, not even once in their lifetime. We spend heavily on our acquisitions, but a lot of people don't even know where our museums are. Is this situation in line with the development of our city? Is it in line with our aim to enhance cultural qualities? Some explain that orientals or Chinese people are not interested in such things, but I don't agree. From what I know, the museum in Shanghai has several hundreds of visitors a day, but our museums have only several tens to a hundred. I feel that we should do our utmost to attract more people to our museums. It is important to our efforts in enhancing cultural qualities.
The Libraries Select Committee has the consensus to make libraries in future 'libraries without walls'. It is our direction for future development.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I think that apart from providing such facilities, Urban Council can play a more important role by introducing a set of irrigation plans for the development of art.
When we were visiting Vancouver, we discussed with officials there on how to promote arts. I was deeply impressed by the active approach of the government there towards the promotion of art and culture. The officials pointed out that adequate cultural facilities were prerequisites for the promotion of art and culture within the community. They were of the opinion that development in this aspect would enhance economic growth by attracting visitors and businessmen, and that it would help achieve social growth by enhancing the qualities of the people. To them, therefore, it was important to have sufficient venues for artists to participate and display their works. When we visited the Central Library in Vancouver, we realized even more deeply how they were implementing this policy. Wherever we went, along each corridor and in each corner of the Library, we saw works of art on display. It impressed upon the public that art and culture were a part of their daily lives. In fact, the whole city was actively opening up more space in public places for artists to display their works and to build up a larger spectator base.
Mr. Chairman, the Council has always spared no efforts in the promotion of art and culture. Other than providing venues and sponsoring activities, I look forward to its taking up an even more important role in providing impetus and direction to artists and actively promoting the irrigation plan. I hope the Council will allocate more space in its venues for displaying works of art to the benefit of artists and their appreciators. With these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN (in Cantonese):-I am very much in support of this motion. I feel that the cultural qualities of our citizens in Hong Kong, an international metropolitan city, should be brought up to the level of other international cities. In many overseas cities, whatever their size, citizens have made a habit of visiting museums. It has become a part of their lives to go to the cinema, opera house or music hall. Unfortunately for us, as just pointed out by The Hon. Mok Ying-fan, many of our citizens have never visited a museum to see the collection there, not even once in their lifetime. We spend heavily on our acquisitions, but a lot of people don't even know where our museums are. Is this situation in line with the development of our city? Is it in line with our aim to enhance cultural qualities? Some explain that orientals or Chinese people are not interested in such things, but I don't agree. From what I know, the museum in Shanghai has several hundreds of visitors a day, but our museums have only several tens to a hundred. I feel that we should do our utmost to attract more people to our museums. It is important to our efforts in enhancing cultural qualities.
The Libraries Select Committee, has the consensus to make libraries in future 'libraries without walls'. It is our direction for future development. This
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