Contents 2 Chairman’s Foreword Annual Review 4 List of Council Members 8 Council Structure 10 Secretary-General’s Report 15 Year at a Glance Committees’ Reports 16 Artform Board 18 Resource Management Board 20 Strategic Development Board 22 Grants Committee 24 Planning and Development Committee 26 Arts Education Committee 28 Drama Committee 30 Film and Media Arts Committee 32 Literary Arts Committee 34 Music and Dance Committee 36 Visual Arts Committee 38 Xiqu Committee Mode of Operation 40 Members and Examiners of Arts Committees Jolans Fun g — Exhibit fro m Nice Label 50 Code of Conduct 52 Corporate Communications 53 Sponsorship 54 Report of the Council 56 Auditors’ Report 57 Income and Expenditure Account 58 Balance Sheet 59 Cash Flow Statement 60 Statement of Recognised Gains and Losses 61 Notes to the Accounts 65 Secretariat Structure 66 Members’ Attendance at Council, Boards and Committee Meetings 70 Grants List Hong Kong Arts Development Council Annual Report 1999/2000 1 April 1999 — 31 March 2000 The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (ADC) was formally established by the Government in June 1995 to plan, promote and support the broad development of the arts, including the literary, performing, visual and film arts. The ADC is a highly focused policy development and funding agency, providing grants to arts organisations and artists. The ADC also develops and improves the participation and education in, and the knowledge, practice, appreciation, accessibility and informed criticism of the arts, with a view to improving quality of life for the whole community. The ADC lays great emphasis on the role played by arts education in achieving these aims. The vision of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council is for a dynamic and diverse arts scene in Hong Kong. Chairman’s Foreword Hong Kong’s cultural scene has been buffeted by winds of change: the dissolution of the municipal councils, the establishment of the Culture and Heritage Commission, the decision to corporatise three major performing companies, all , in a climate of economic austerity, Mr Vincent Chow ong Arts Chairman of the Hong K everything under pressure to Development Council ‘enhance productivity’. I think in the past year the Hong Kong Arts Development Council has succeeded in strengthening its own structure, preparing itself for the new environment. We devised a better way of dealing with grants. Council Members recognise that their duty lies in making sure the system works fairly and efficiently, not in dealing with each and every application in its minutiae. We have not relegated our responsibility, rather, we elevated it to a higher level. This system conserves Members’ time and energy, it also removes personalities and relationships from the procedure of assessment, and it cultivates a large pool of expertise in the ADC. Our Committee structure has been modified to ensure better co-ordination between art forms, to have more consistent procedures and standards, more flexible and focused utilisation of resources. The two structural alterations addressed the ADC’s dual roles, that of a funding agency and that of a developmental council. There are two issues which the ADC’s structural changes cannot tackle. One is public attitude towards public funding for the arts. My particular concern is of those that dismiss it as a handout, and the others who believe it is of their personal right. The former camp misses the importance of arts and culture in enhancing the quality of life and the quality of the 2 Hong Kong Arts Development Council people. The latter is arrogant and self-serving. Neither does the cause of the arts any good. The other is that the ADC may not be the most suitable body to make decisions on cultural exchange. In its broadest sense, cultural exchange often has an element of state diplomacy in it. The choice of ‘cultural ambassadors’ is not necessarily made solely on artistic grounds. To ask the ADC to provide funding without it having had the opportunity to give due consideration of the applicants’ qualifications is tantamount to making it flout its own policy. The ADC may be able to provide artistic advice, but it should not be expected to make political allocations of its limited financial resources. High level cultural exchange, a most useful tool, should be taken up by Government as part and parcel of its external-relations programme. If the Chief Executive wants Hong Kong to be known as a metropolis with culture, his government must be ready, willing and able to wield this tool. On behalf of the ADC, I would like to thank members of the public, the arts community and government officials for their concern and support, and their criticism as well. I would also like to mention the Council’s dedicated and hard working staff, without whose effort much less would have been done. Personally, as my service in the ADC draws to a close, I wish to express my gratitude to everyone for what has been a most exhilarating and enriching experience to me. Vincent Chow Chairman Hong Kong Arts Development Council June 2000 Note: The term of Mr Vincent Chow’s chairmanship expired on 30 June 2000. Dr Patrick Ho was appointed Council Chairman on 1 July 2000. 3 Hong Kong Arts Development Council List of Council Members Annual Review SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS (1999-2000) First row from left: Dr Patrick Ho, Ms Chan Kim-seng, Mr Darwin Chen, Mr Vincent Chow, Ms Barbara Fei, Mr Arthur Ng Second row from left: Prof Chan Wing-wah, Dr Cheung Ping-kuen, Prof Leung Ping-chung, Dr Lan Hai-wen, Mr Gordon Chan, Mr Benny Chia, Mr Ngai Wing-chit ❖# Mr Vincent Chow (Chairman)❖# (first appointed Chairman 1 July 1996, re-appointed 1 January 1998) Member of the General Committee of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society and the Council of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Mr Chow is currently the Group General Manager of Chow Sang Sang Holdings International Ltd. ❖ Mr Darwin Chen (Vice-Chairman)❖ (first appointed Vice-Chairman 1 July 1996, re-appointed 1 January 1998, 1 January 2000 and 1 July 2000) During his civil service career of 32 years, Mr Chen has held many posts relating to the arts, including Director of Cultural Services and Commissioner for Television and Entertaining Licensing. His contribution to the arts continues with his voluntary service on various Boards and Committees of cultural/arts organisations. ✛ Mr Gordon Chan✛ (first appointed 1 January 1996, re-appointed 1 January 1998 and 1 January 2000) Mr Chan is a leading prolific scriptwriter and film director/producer in Hong Kong. His direction and scripts have won him major awards. He is currently the Vice-President of Film Directors’ Guild and takes on an active role in the advocacy of film development in Hong Kong. ✛ Ms Chan Kim-seng✛ (first appointed 1 January 1998, re-appointed 1 January 2000) An eminent Cantonese opera performer since the 70s, Ms Chan is dedicated to the promotion of Cantonese opera. She is now Vice-President of the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Artists Club and Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong. 4 Hong Kong Arts Development Council ❖ Prof Chan Wing-wah❖ (first appointed 15 April 1994, re-appointed 1 January 1996, 1 January 1998, 1 January 2000 and 1 July 2000) Prof Chan is the Chairman of the Music Department and Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Arts at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also an internationally-renowned composer. Orchestras around the world perform his works. ✛ Dr Cheung Ping-kuen✛ (first appointed 1 January 1996, re-appointed 1 January 1998 and 1 January 2000) Dr Cheung is currently Senior Instructor of the Independent Learning Centre at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has long been active in the local theatre scene, producing plays and writing theatre reviews. ❖# Mr Benny Chia❖# (first appointed 15 April 1994, re-appointed 1 January 1996 and 1 January 1998) Mr Chia is the Founder and Director of the Fringe Club and the City Festival (Hong Kong Fringe Festival). He has written and produced dance, mime and drama works and organised art exhibitions. ✛ Ms Barbara Fei✛ (first appointed 1 January 1996, re-appointed 1 January 1998 and 1 January 2000) Founder, Music Director and Conductor of the Allegro Singers, and Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Choral Societies, Ms Fei is an accomplished musician who is dedicated to promotion of choral music. ❖ Dr Patrick Ho❖ (first appointed 1 January 1998, re-appointed 1 January 2000, Chairman from 1 July 2000) A medical practitioner specialising in ophthalmology and retinal disease and surgery, Dr Ho was elected Chairman of the General Committee of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society in August 1997, and became a Member of the ADC in 1998. He was also the Chairman of the ADC’s Strategic Development Board. Dr Ho is devoted to the development of arts and culture in Hong Kong. ✛# Mr Andrew Lam✛# (first appointed 1 January 1996, re-appointed 1 January 1998) Mr Lam is the Director of the Museum of Site. He was a member of Sub- group on Aims of Informal and Non-formal Education of the Education Commission as well as Chairman of the ADC’s Arts Education Committee. ✛ Dr Lan Hai-wen✛ (appointed 1 January 2000) An accomplished writer, scholar, editor, publisher and painter, Dr Lan has more than 30 literary and academic works under his belt. He is currently the President of the World Association of Chinese Poets, President of the Hong Kong Poets Association, and Professor in the Department of Literature and History at the Hong Kong Buddhist College. 5 Hong Kong Arts Development Council List of Council Members ✛# Mr Lee Kam-yin✛# (appointed 1 January 1998) A Senior Graduate Master at the YWCA Hoie Tjo Yoeng College, Mr Lee is currently the Vice-Chairperson of the Hong Kong Lan Ting Society and the Vice-President of the Hong Kong Hung Lai Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Society.