ENG-1957 — Page 362

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Colonial Secretary on the advice of a small committee. Com- mercial organizations which have hitherto promoted, at no little financial risk to themselves, concerts and recitals by visiting celebrities will now be placed in a position only slightly less favourable than that of non-profit-making societies which may, under certain conditions, be completely exempted from Entertainment Tax when they promote similar

ventures.

GOVERNMENT COLLECTIONS

The collection of paintings bequeathed to the Colony pre-war by Sir Paul Chater was sadly reduced during the Japanese occupation by damage or theft. By 1950, however, the surviving remnants had been brought together again, and, using this nucleus, the Government began to assemble a fresh collection as an artistic and historical record of Hong Kong, Macau and the China Coast during the nineteenth century. Beginning with the purchase of the Law and Sayer pictures in 1951, the Government has steadily added new paintings and photographs to the collection, including during 1957 several original water-colours of Hong Kong Island, one dating to 1816, and the others to the 1860's. Another acquisition was an attractive coloured elevation drawing of the old Hong Kong Mint, presented by Mr. H. F. A. Kinder, a relative of the original Master of the Mint during its brief existence from 1866 to 1868.

A substantial number of pictures were reglazed during the year, whilst twelve oil-paintings by unidentified Chinese artists were sent to England for cleaning and minor repairs. The Picture Collection, which has been exhibited on a number of occasions in recent years, is now principally displayed on the walls of corridors and offices in the new Central Government Offices, pending the completion of the Art Gallery in the new City Hall. The photographs in the Collection are now being recatalogued.

The Government has accepted from the Executors of the estate of the late Sir Robert Ho Tung a collection of