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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

is very important because when we have similar events in future, the way to handle attendance figures will present a problem if there is no firm counting method.

My second question concerns subsidy levels as mentioned in paragraph 4 of the reply document. I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee if there will be a comprehensive review of current subsidy levels, and what are the levels? Again, this second question is very important.

The third questions concerns figures mentioned in paragraph 5 of the reply document. Can you give figures on how many free tickets were distributed to schools, the Academy for Performing Arts and other institutions?

MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Let me respond to the three follow up questions, Mr. CHAIRMAN. The third one is simpler. I would ask the Department to furnish figures to Mr. CHAN after the meeting.

I move on to question two about a comprehensive review of subsidy levels. I believe those who attended meetings of the Performing Companies Sub- Committee know that everyone is concerned about attendance rate and subsidy levels. In fact, the Select Committee and the Sub-Committec are both keeping a close watch of the situation. I would refer the matter to the Sub- Committee for consideration. However, as Chairman of the Select Committee, it would not be appropriate for me to decide on whether an overall review should be carried out. I promise Mr. CHAN that his views will be referred to the Sub-Committee.

The first question asks about the reasons for treating attendance statistics of 'Tales of the Walled City' differently in the first and second years. For the premier performance in the first year, the three Companies spent a lot of time in rehearsals, organisation and arrangement work. Neither the Committee nor myself instructed the three Companies on how to handle the attendance figures. However, I believe all three Companies put in similar time and efforts for the production and that is probably why attendance was counted for each of the three Companies. As for re-run, probably the time and efforts involved were less so that for accuracy, attendance was only counted for the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre only, but not for the other two Companies. I think that is an understandable way of handling the matter and the correct approach too. As such, attendance rate for the re-run was not counted for the other two Companies.

Mr. Wu Chi-wai (in Cantonese);~I refer to paragraph 5 of the reply document mentioning that the Department would consider distributing free tickets if ticket sales are not satisfactory. I want to know what sort of situation is considered as not satisfactory and at what time is action taken to make best use of vacant seats.