ANGRY parents of Music Office pupils have criticised the Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Mr James So Yiu-cho, for ''playing with words and withdrawing from his responsibility of training young musicians''. Following the Government announcement of the closure of the Music Office, the only government-run organisation to offer students a music education at low cost, Mr So had issued a statement to the media on April 14 saying the office would not be ''closed'' but rather ''re-organised''. In an open letter, in Cantonese, sent to Mr So recently, parents said the Secretary for Recreation and Culture should have had a ''clear understanding'' of the running of the Music Office. His remark that the office had to be ''re-organised'' had ''truly annoyed'' parents, the letter read. Defending the Government move, Mr So told the press the proposal was only ''to streamline the administration's provision of musical training''. Refraining from using the word ''close'', Mr So said the office would be re-organised to ''transfer its work to a higher degree of professionalism in the training''. His statement has sparked further discontent among music teachers and learners. ''Words like 're-organise' or 'streamline' are only substitutes for shutdown,'' said parent representative, Mrs Cecilia Chan. ''No matter what words the Government uses, the Music Office will finally disappear, and our children will be deprived of the chance to learn music.'' Mrs Chan, whose son and daughter attend violin and viola classes at the Music Office, said: ''The office is doing something really good for young people. The office should be improved, not disbanded.'' Parents are launching a signature campaign to save the school. So far, over 2,000 signatures have been collected. The campaign will continue for one or two more weeks before the the list is handed over to the Secretary for Recreation and Culture. According to the Government's ''Arts Policy Review'', the Music Office's task of giving young people a training in musical instruments would be transferred to other non-government organisations, such as the Academy for Performing Arts (APA). This move has raised concern that young people will no longer be able to enjoy music instrument training at low tuition fees. At present, the Music Office has nearly 3,000 students who pay between $60 and $150 a month as fees.
