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Group attacks arts policy review

A REVIEW expected to set the stage for government arts policy during the next decade would leave Hongkong's artistic freedom backstage, one group has claimed.

One of the territory's few outspoken, experimental, artistic groups, 10-year-old Zuni Icosahedron, said the government review paper released last week lacked critical elements, particularly concerning artistic freedom.

Zuni member Mr Mathias Woo Yan-wai said the review wrongly concluded the Government had forged a social and creative environment conducive to growth of the arts.

''Freedom of arts expression has been ebbing over the past 10 years, despite the fact that Hongkong seems to have more institutional democratic elements.

''Many vocal artistic groups in the early 1980s gradually faded out as a result of the Government's negative attitude towards them,'' Mr Woo said.

He cited an experience in 1991 when the Consul-General of Belgium asked the Government to sponsor Zuni to perform in last year's Hongkong Festival in Belgium.

Mr Woo claimed the Government would have been happier to send all the Zuni members away with a one-way, first-class ticket, provided the group disappeared from Hongkong forever.

He said that although this might only be a joke, the Government insisted on excluding Zuni from the festival.

''The incident showed very clearly the Government's attitude towards us. Over the past 10 years Zuni has faced subtle censorship like not being allowed to stage politically-sensitive performances at government venues,'' Mr Woo said.

The executive director of the Urban Council's Hongkong Cultural Centre, Mr Wayne Maddern, said applicants were allowed to hire venues if they got a permit from the commissioner of the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority.

However, Mr Woo criticised the commissioner for possessing too much discretionary power.

Mr Woo said Zuni's counter-proposal would suggest separating the two municipal councils from management of the cultural venues, and they should stay independent when considering applications.

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