ENG-1996 — Page 441

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

The government's policies on recreation, sport, culture and heritage matters are co- ordinated by the Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Branch, headed by the Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport. He is assisted by several expert bodies, including the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Antiquities Advisory Board and the Hong Kong Sports Development Board. Many other individuals and associations also play a role in creating and improving opportunities for leisure activities in Hong Kong.

The Arts

The dynamic lifestyle in Hong Kong and its cosmopolitan outlook, blending the best of East and West, provide local artists with an abundant supply of new ideas on which they can draw to express their talent and creativity. The Hong Kong Arts Development Council's development into an independent statutory body governed by its own ordinance was a major breakthrough for the arts community. It was the direct result of the arts policy review conducted by the government in 1993 to map out the strategy for the future development of the arts in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has a very rich cultural life, with eight professional performing companies, and hundreds of amateur groups, offering the community a wide range of arts activities. The Urban and Regional Councils also run a total of 17 major arts venues at various accessible locations throughout Hong Kong, providing Hong Kong people with convenient access to different types of cultural presentations.

Hong Kong Arts Development Council

The Hong Kong Arts Development Council was formally established as a statutory body on June 1, 1995. Its mission is to plan, promote and support the broad development of the arts, including the literary, performing, visual and film arts, with a view to improving the community's quality of life.

In order to pursue its goal for creating a more dynamic and diverse arts scene in Hong Kong, during 1995-96 the council provided more than $30 million in project. grants to individual artists and arts organisations, and general support grants and seeding grants of $44.67 million to six major performing arts companies in Hong Kong the Chung Ying Theatre Company, Hong Kong Ballet, City Contemporary Dance Company, Exploration Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. In order to discharge its statutory duties effectively, the council has three boards and six committees to handle the various subjects and to help formulate long-term strategic plans.

The council now consists of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, four ex officio members and 16 non-official members, eight of whom were nominated by their respective arts interests. In December 1995, the council published its first Five-Year Strategic Plan, setting out its approach to the development of the arts in Hong Kong for the period 1996-97 to 2000-01.

Performing Arts Groups

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

The Hong Kong Philharmonic, which turned professional in 1974, appeared with internationally acclaimed artists at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, City Hall and cultural venues in the New Territories before more than 150 000 people. It also

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