A HONG KONG arts group's hope of performing at an international festival in Brussels has been dashed by the Government's refusal to provided funds.
The rejection came last week when the Council for the Performing Arts (CFPA) informed Zuni Icosahedron that its application for $2.8 million to perform at the First Brussels International Arts Festival in May was not supported.
This was despite earlier reassurance from the Secretary for Recreation and Culture, James So Yiu-cho, to Brussels officials that Zuni's performance was being supported in principle.
''Hong Kong is proud to be able to take part in this festival and I shall certainly try my best to facilitate the participation by Zuni Icosahedron,'' Mr So said in a letter to Zuni in June.
In another letter to Zuni in September, Mr So said: ''. . . we had indicated to the Minister of the Government of Flanders for Culture and Brussels Affairs, Hugo Weckx, that we would be prepared to support in principle Zuni's participation in the festival. The level of this support needed to be examined in detail having regard to the resources available.'' The Government had at that time provided, through the CFPA, $81,000 for two Zuni representatives to go to Brussels to make preparation for the performance.
Mr Weckx had written to Governor Chris Patten in June saying that the organisers would like Zuni to perform in the festival.