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RECREATION AND THE ARTS

Great imagination has gone into the park's lowland site, where an area of rough ground has been transformed into a landscaped showpiece offering such diversions as performing macaws, martial art and dance displays, pop shows and Chinese opera. Many special events are held here throughout the year, including an annual flower festival which centres on artistic displays of chrysanthemums.

On a scientific level, Ocean Park offers facilities to students. The Botany and Biology Departments of both the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong are carrying out study projects. Eventually, it is hoped the park will host international meetings on botany and marine life and have its own research labora- tories. A non-profit organisation, Ocean Park is able to accept gifts from other countries and to develop exchange programmes with recognised zoological and oceanographic institutions around the world.

Hong Kong Arts Centre

The Hong Kong Arts Centre, which was officially opened by the Governor in October, 1977, has since established itself as a major cultural centre. During its first 12 months, there were no less than 1,040 separate presentations in the Arts Centre's three audi- toria. This is in addition to 1,256 rehearsals, classes, workshops and practice sessions and represents a considerable achievement for an enterprise which operates without subsidy from public funds.

The Arts Centre is concerned with the education and encouragement of community activities and does not measure success in terms of individual events. However it has enjoyed artistic highlights. These include performances by the visiting Oxford Playhouse Company with four plays in repertoire; a superbly presented and docu- mented calligraphy exhibition; the Bunraku Puppets, Gagaku Court Music, and Suwa Drummers, all from Japan; a retrospective season of early Chinese films; the Amadeus Quartet with Fou T'song; Peking and Cantonese opera; a visit by artistes from the People's Republic of China Performing Arts Group; and the debut of the Hong Kong Modern Dance Theatre.

Since its opening, the Arts Centre has helped provide opportunities for people who wish to practise the arts and broaden their experience. In terms of facilities alone, the Arts Centre has created since its inception a rehearsal hall for dance and ballet, a record library, two music practice rooms, a photographic studio and darkrooms, a reference library, and an art and crafts studio. Not all activities take place under the Arts Centre's management. Six of the centre's 19 floors are occupied by cultural and educational organisations such as the Goethe Institute, Composers' and Authors' Society, Institute of International Education, Tom Lee Music Foundation, Studio One Film Society, Music Administrator's Office, Hong Kong Photographic Society and the Hong Kong Conservatory of Music.

Music Administrator's Office

To plan and provide music training and activities for young people, the Music Administrator's Office was established in September, 1977. In December, 1977, the office, which is part of the Education Department, moved to its permanent accom- modation at the Hong Kong Arts Centre.