ENG-1996 — Page 450

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

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Shop opened, selling souvenirs and books on the performing and visual arts. The City Hall also encourages local non-profit-making arts organisations to organise cultural events under the Rental Subsidy Scheme.

During the year, more than 304 000 people attended 613 events staged in the performing venues in City Hall and 133 exhibitions were held. The average usage rate is 89 per cent.

Community Arts Centres

The Urban Council runs four community arts centres the Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre and Ko Shan Theatre. They actively promote district-based cultural activities.

Each centre includes a theatre and ancillary facilities such as exhibition halls, lecture halls, art studios and practice rooms. During the year, the centres were used for 1253 cultural and entertainment performances, including dramas, Cantonese operas, concerts, variety shows, arts festivals and ceremonies, for audiences totalling 277 500.

The Ko Shan Theatre closed from mid-July 1994 for major improvement works and re-opened in October 1996. The theatre auditorium, which has 1 031 seats, now has air-conditioning installed. The open-air section has been demolished and replaced by a new foyer block housing rehearsal facilities, committee room and a cafeteria. The stage, lighting and sound systems have been improved.

Indoor Stadia

The Hong Kong Coliseum and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, managed by the Urban Council, are two of the best-equipped, multi-purpose indoor stadia in Asia. The 12 500-seat Hong Kong Coliseum is a popular venue not only for performances by local and international artistes, but also for world-class spectator events including sports competitions, conventions and exhibitions. Highlights of the year included concerts by local pop stars such as Emil Chau, Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, Cass Phang; and by overseas artistes Chage & Aska, Barry Manilow, Kenny G, Santana and The Cranberries. Popular family entertainment programmes such as magic shows by David Copperfield were also staged.

The 3 500-seat Queen Elizabeth Stadium also plays host to numerous local and overseas productions, such as sport events, pop concerts and cultural programmes, as well as to conventions. Highlights of 1996 included pop singer Bjork in Concert, the family musical Hello! Kitty, the Thomas & Uber Cup badminton tournaments, World Professional Ballroom and Latin American Dance performances and the Table Tennis Women's World Cup.

Computerised Ticketing

The Urban Council operates URBTIX (Urban Ticketing System), a computerised system providing a full range of ticketing services primarily in support of cultural and entertainment events of the territory through its network of 24 outlets. URBTIX services include counter bookings, reservation by telephone and credit card phone orders from registered patrons. In all, 4.3 million tickets were sold through URBTIX during the year.

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