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Lastly, Mr. CHUNG commented that we are given only a six to eight-page paper in each application for funds, which seems to be inadequate. However, I can tell Members that each Executive Council Memorandum is no more than three pages. When they make some major decisions, what matters is the substance of the six to eight-page paper. It doesn't mean that a six to eight-page paper cannot provide adequate information. If there is any type of information which Members consider to be useful, I welcome their recommendations. We could ask the Department to collect and provide the type of information that Members are interested. I am not convinced that a 60 to 80-page information paper is much better than a six to eight-page one. Nevertheless, Mr. CHUNG has given a very good recommendation and I beseech Members who are interested in this issue to put up some views and requests, such as those on the scope of information to support funding applications. Would Members please let us know so that when we ask the Department to prepare the papers to meet Members' requirements in future?
Ms. ADA Wong Ying-kay (in Cantonese):—Let me first of all declare that I am a member of the Standing Committee of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.
I consider that the prevailing subsidy policy is a historical legacy. The Culture Select Committee does not have a comprehensive set of subsidy policy and the subsidy system is not open to all the performing arts groups. Every year, the financial budgets of the three organizations viz the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Arts Festival and Fringe Club, are automatically included in the annual financial budget of the Culture Select Committee. Under such circumstances, an objective mechanism for assessment is absent. I wish to ask Mr. PAO here whether he considers that there is any need for a more objective mechanism. I consider it an opportune time to review the Council's subsidy policy to lay down the criteria and standards for the consideration of any organization's application to the Council for recurrent subsidy. In so doing, can we draw reference from the criteria for recurrent subsidy recently modified by the Arts Development Council? The fact is that its practices are better than ours. May I ask the Chairman of the Select Committee whether we would discuss at the meetings of the Culture Select Committee an open subsidy system and a more objective mechanism for assessment?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, Ms. WONG'S proposition is in fact a very good one. I believe the Culture Select Committee will constantly review our performance to ensure that it is the best. In principle, this is a very good direction, but concerning Ms. WONG's remark that the Culture Select Committee does not have an open and clear subsidy policy, I consider I am again obliged to clarify. In fact, we have an open and criteria-based subsidy policy. It is only that there are different categories under the policy.
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Lastly, Mr. CHUNG commented that we are given only a six to eight-page paper in each application for funds, which seems to be inadequate. However, I can tell Members that each Executive Council Memorandum is no more than three pages. When they make some major decisions, what matters is the substance of the six to eight-page paper. It doesn't mean that a six to eight- page paper cannot provide adequate information. If there is any type of information which Members consider to be useful, I welcome their recommendations. We could ask the Department to collect and provide the type of information that Members are interested. I am not convinced that a 60 to 80-page information paper is much better than a six to eight-page one. Nevertheless, Mr. CHUNG has given a very good recommendation and I beseech Members who are interested in this issue to put up some views and requests, such as those on the scope of information to support funding applications. Would Members please let us know so that when we ask the Department to prepare the papers to meet Members' requirements in future?
Ms. ADA Wong Ying-kay (in Cantonese):—Let me first of all declare that I am a member of the Standing Committee of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.
I consider that the prevailing subsidy policy is a historical legacy. The Culture Select Committee does not have a comprehensive set of subsidy policy and the subsidy system is not open to all the performing arts groups. Every year, the financial budgets of the three organizations viz the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Arts Festival and Fringe Club, are automatically included in the annual financial budget of the Culture Select Committee. Under such circumstances, an objective mechanism for assessment is absent. I wish to ask Mr. PAO here whether he considers that there is any need for a more objective mechanism. I consider it an opportune time to review the Council's subsidy policy to lay down the criteria and standards for the consideration of any organization's application to the Council for recurrent subsidy. In so doing, can we draw reference from the criteria for recurrent subsidy recently modified by the Arts Development Council? The fact is that its practices are better than ours. May I ask the Chairman of the Select Committee whether we would discuss at the meetings of the Culture Select Committee an open subsidy system and a more objective mechanism for assessment?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, Ms. WONG'S proposition is in fact a very good one. I believe the Culture Select Committee will constantly review our performance to ensure that it is the best. In principle, this is a very good direction, but concerning Ms. WONG's remark that the Culture Select Committee does not have an open and clear subsidy policy, I consider I am again obliged to clarify. In fact, we have an open and criteria-based subsidy policy. It is only that there are different categories under the policy.
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