ENG-1948 — Page 170

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and, by attracting attention to military band music, helped the public to realise that Hong Kong had a band of a very high standard, that of the 2nd Battalion The Buffs. The perfor- mances of that band were thenceforward listened to with greatly increased interest. An important musical revival was the resuscitation of the Chamber Music Club, which flourished in Hong Kong before the war. A large audience attended its first concert, which was held in the ball-room of Government House.

Interest in choral music has also increased. Several local choirs were introduced to the public at the concerts of the Sino- British Club. All were of good standard and most of them showed a refreshing originality in their choice of items for

per- formance. The Hong Kong Singers maintained their usual good standard and another welcome musical revival was that of the Choral Group, which was responsible for many concerts of operatic music in pre-war days. The Colony is fortunate in having some individual singers and instrumentalists who were always heard with pleasure. Their number was increased by a few passing visitors. Radio Hong Kong was watchful to enlist the services of every performer of worth, and it made the fullest use of local talent in providing 'live" musical items from the Hong Kong studio, besides running a series of interest- ing talks on orchestral music.

An assurance of increased musical activity in Hong Kong was provided by the development of interest in music in the University and schools. There is a flourishing Musical Society in the University, and the concert of carols given by the students was outstanding among Christmas functions. For the younger students of the Colony there is the Schools' Musical Association which holds monthly concerts and recitals both in Hong Kong and in Kowloon. Its success was so considerable that it had to cease enrolling new members since there was no hall capable of holding all who wished to join.

Drama.

The Hong Kong Stage Club which was founded in February, 1946, primarily as an organisation to provide some cultural activity for some of the men and women of the Services stationed in the Colony, has since then

then much increased its membership and its activity, and in its short history has presented seventeen full-length plays and scores of radio programmes. The year 1948 saw the conclusion of a very successful season at the little theatre in the Missions to Seamen which offered hospitality to the Club and enabled it to present a varied series

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