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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
The culture and elegant demeanour of a metropolis are not determined by the number of cultural and artistic performances staged. A decisive factor is whether or not motivation for local culture could be generated so that residents and visitors alike would be influenced and moved by the unique cultural atmosphere of that place. This is the most crucial factor to determine whether Hong Kong could become an international metropolis. Hong Kong is perpetually deficient of a set of cultural and artistic beliefs and motivation. The Provisional Urban Council, as a significant cultural mechanism in the territory, is still engrossed in relying on cultural and artistic performances and activities from other countries. It incessantly creates a cultural atmosphere that has neither roots nor a direction for development. As a result, we will still have a long way to go to become a metropolis like New York, London and Paris. The economic growth and cultural development of a region, a community or a city do not necessarily have to be synchronized. A city with multitudinous cultural activities does not denote a city with a wealth of cultural characteristics.
As culture affects a community deeply, the culture and elegant demeanour of a metropolis are tangible and felt by everyone in it. A primary condition for the fashioning of a metropolis is the establishment of a cultural foundation and not the use of cultural events for window-dressing purposes. If Hong Kong is to bring about such conditions or equip itself for metropolis status, then the following factors will have to be considered in the development of culture:
Firstly, there is the need to develop local culture and arts so that Hong Kong would naturally evoke a cultured atmosphere and an elegant demeanour. Secondly, Hong Kong requires the generation of unique cultural motivation so that it would be a favourable place for cultural and artistic creation and for the nurturing of cultural and artistic creativity from which the territory's charm would be felt and understood. While traditional Chinese culture maintains its rightful place, the language of contemporary art should be developed in the hope that the application of western experience in culture and art would foster the maturity of local arts and lend a contemporary touch to traditional Chinese culture and art. With Hong Kong's special geographic location, economic conditions, information technology, and the formal promotion of the 'one country, two systems' concept, and provided that we could set up a rich and concrete cultural infrastructure and formulate a set of strategies for short-term cultural exchanges with other countries, I believe it should not be difficult for Hong Kong to become a cultural metropolis in Asia.
Mr. Chairman, these are my remarks.
MR. TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, over the past two to three decades, Hong Kong has earned its reputation as the 'food paradise'. As a member of the food business and having engaged in it for twenty years, I take great pride in this good reputation. The hygiene conditions, facilities and supervision of food premises in Hong Kong have
Page 521 of 654
Page 521 of 654
654
516
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
The culture and elegant demeanour of a metropolis are not determined by the number of cultural and artistic performances staged. A decisive factor is whether or not motivation for local culture could be generated so that residents and visitors alike would be influenced and moved by the unique cultural atmosphere of that place. This is the most crucial factor to determine whether Hong Kong could become an international metropolis. Hong Kong is perpetually deficient of a set of cultural and artistic belief's and motivation. The Provisional Urban Council, as a significant cultural mechanism in the territory, is still engrossed in relying on cultural and artistic performances and activities from other countries. It incessantly creates a cultural atmosphere that has neither roots nor a direction for development. As a result, we will still have a long way to go to become a metropolis like New York, London and Paris. The economic growth and cultural development of a region, a community or a city do not necessarily have to be synchronized. A city with multitudinous cultural activities does not denote a city with a wealth of cultural characteristics.
As culture affects a community deeply, the culture and elegant demeanour of a metropolis are tangible and felt by everyone in it. A primary condition for the fashioning of a metropolis is the establishment of a cultural foundation and not the use of cultural events for window-dressing purposes. If Hong Kong is to bring about such conditions or equip itself for metropolis status, then the following factors will have to be considered in the development of culture:
Firstly, there is the need to develop local culture and arts so that Hong Kong would naturally evoke a cultured atmosphere and an elegant demeanour. Secondly, Hong Kong requires the generation of unique cultural motivation so that it would be a favourable place for cultural and artistic creation and for the nurturing of cultural and artistic creativity from which the territory's charm would be felt and understood. While traditional Chinese culture maintains its rightful place, the language of contemporary art should be developed in the hope that the application of western experience in culture and art would foster the maturity of local arts and lend a contemporary touch to traditional Chinese culture and art. With Hong Kong's special geographic location, economic conditions, information technology, and the formal promotion of the 'one country, two systems' concept, and provided that we could set up a rich and concrete cultural infrastructure and formulate a set of strategies for short-term cultural exchanges with other countries, I believe it should not be difficult for Hong Kong to become a cultural metropolis in Asia.
Mr. Chairman, these are my remarks.
MR. TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, over the past two to three decades, Hong Kong has earned its reputation as the food paradise'. As a member of the food business and having engaged in it for twenty years, I take great pride in this good reputation. The hygiene conditions, facilities and supervision of food premises in Hong Kong have
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