November 3, 1999

Clinton administration, in move to strengthen opposition to Yugoslav Pres Slobodan Milosevic, will end economic sanctions against Serbia as soon as free election is held; feels new strategy should enable opposition to put more pressure on Milosevic; delegation of Serbian opposition leaders visiting Washington pressed for policy change, arguing that it would allow them to increase popular pressure on Milosevic to call election they are certain they can win; photo (M)

Walt Disney Co and Hong Kong government announce long-awaited plan to open theme park in Hong Kong by 2005; total cost of park and related projects is $3.6 billion, of which Disney will contribute only $316 million; critics say government is paying large upfront costs for project; Hong Kong's leaders say park will help it fashion new identity as tourist destination in wake of its return to Chinese rule in 1997; Disney executives see it as powerful launch pad into China; charts; drawings; photo (M)

Michael Kimmelman Critic's Notebook article says museum officials across the country, thinking of their own First Amendment rights, must be relieved at court decision in favor of Brooklyn Museum of Art and against New York City and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, even though many of them privately disliked controversial 'Sensation' exhibition and way it was handled by Brooklyn Museum; says museum acted at dubious extreme of ethical practice by soliciting money from people with direct financial involvement in the works, and was additionally foolish to have dissembled about the financing; notes that museums must depend on private support, and private contributors naturally have their own interests, but generosity can exist simultaneously with self-interest (M)

NYS Attorney General's office is investigating origin of $2 million found in safe deposit box of Stanley Israel, former head of Correction Officers' Benevolent Association who died in March at age 57 without leaving will; investigators say that source of money remains a mystery and that there has been no evidence of any wrongdoing on Israel's part so far; Israel's heirs have filed necessary papers in Brooklyn Surrogate Court to claim $2 million and state has not taken any steps to contest estate; photo (M)

Oct 5 concert at Carnegie Hall featuring Skitch Henderson and New York Pops will celebrate New York City; architect Frank Gehry lecture to be held on Oct 12 at Town Hall; Film Forum to screen new prints of The Lady Vanishes and The 39 Steps as part of Alfred Hitchcock centennial series; New York State Museum in Albany to exhibit part of its collection of Shaker artifacts beginning on Oct 5; Dayton (Ohio) Art Institute to hold exhibit of Ansel Adams photographs; photos (Footlights column) (M)