Financial Secretary: HK to bring art into community

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

HONG KONG, Feb. 25 (Chinese media) -- Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Tsang said here Wednesday morning that the SAR government would make efforts to bring art into the community.

Tsang made the remarks when delivering the budget speech for the fiscal year 2009-2010 at the Legislative Council.

Regarding art and culture, the West Kowloon Cultural District will provide an environment conducive to the development of Hong Kong as an international art and cultural metropolis, and will enrich our cultural life, Tsang said in the middle part of the budget. "It will also bring economic benefits to Hong Kong, promoting creative industries and attracting visitors," he said.

The HKSAR government is committed to bring art into the community. The Home Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council will provide local artists and art bodies with direct funding of about 330 million HK dollars (42.58 million U.S. dollars) in 2010.

The SAR government will also increase the recurrent subvention for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to more than 193 million HK dollars (24.90 million U.S. dollars) to strengthen training programs.

Tsang stressed in his budget speech that Cantonese opera was a gem of Lingnan culture. Hong Kong has preserved the essence of Cantonese opera which should be developed further.

The Legislative Council has approved funding of about 186 million HK dollars (24 million U.S. dollars) for the conversion of the Yau Ma Tei Theater and the Red Brick Building into a Xiqu Activity Center to provide performing and practicing venues for small-scale Cantonese opera performances and budding artists.

The SAR government has also injected 20 million HK dollars (2. 58 million U.S. dollars) into the Cantonese Opera Development Fund and will invest about 33 million HK dollars (4.26 million U.S. dollars) in 2009-10 to further support the research and promotion of Cantonese opera.

Tsang said that the government would provide more opportunity for people to use library facilities. Meanwhile, the Legislative Council has approved funding of 93 million HK dollars (12 million U.S. dollars) to upgrade and enhance the Multimedia Information Systems of public libraries.

Hong Kong financial secretary presents 2009-2010 budget

HONG KONG, Feb. 25 (Chinese media) -- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will likely have a surplus of 18 billion HK dollars (2.32 billion U.S. dollars) in the Operating Account for 2008-2009.

HKSAR government financial secretary John Tsang made the forecast while delivering the Budget for the fiscal year 2009-2010 at the Legislative Council here Wednesday. Full story