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The following is a speech (English only) by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, at the Inauguration of City University of Hong Kong's "Computer Animation and Digital Effects" Programme today (Thursday):

Professor Chang, ladies and gentlemen,

I am very pleased to officiate at the formal inauguration of the CityU's Digital Technology Training Programme for Computer Animation and Digital Effects.

In his 1998 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced his vision to develop Hong Kong into an innovation and technology centre for South China and the region. He also specifically mentioned that Hong Kong should position itself to be a regional centre for multimedia-based information and entertainment services. For this vision to materialise, we need a large pool of talents who are up to date on the latest digital technology. And this is exactly what this training programme is about.

When this programme was first launched about a year ago, the response was overwhelming. The initial 60 full-time and part-time places attracted more than 300 applicants, many of whom were degree holders and experienced artists. This over-subscription demonstrated the tremendous demand for digital technology-related training. About 30 students have since graduated and were headhunted by the emerging firms in digital technology.

In view of the promising prospects of the digital technology industry and our young people's keen interest in pursuing their careers in the field of creative media, the Government, through the Industrial Support Fund (now known as the Innovation and Technology Fund), has approved $14 million to support an expansion of this programme. In two and half years' time, this programme will produce 750 professionally trained 3D computer animators, increasing the present pool by more than four times.

Digital technology is the key to the digital content development (DCD) industry. We believe that the DCD industry is fast-growing and full of potential. Its products can be applied to film production, games, advertisement and virtually every aspect of our daily lives in a digital age. It is a hi-tech, high value-added and job-creating industry with a global market.

Hong Kong possesses certain comparative advantages in developing itself into a regional DCD centre:

Firstly, Hong Kong is an international city where the East meets the West. Our distinct cultural heritage enriches our understanding of the world, and sharpens our sensitivity to the global market trends. We are also a bilingual society. In addition to competing with the western countries for products focused on the English-speaking world, we can develop products based on the Chinese medium, targeted at the Chinese communities around the world.

Secondly, Hong Kong allows and indeed respects the free flow of information and ideas. This is the single most important factor for a creative media industry to develop.

Thirdly, Hong Kong is already the largest entertainment provider in the region. Our movies, TV series and songs reach a wide audience in our neighbouring communities.

This programme is a step in the right direction. The prospect of a large number of trained animators being available in Hong Kong will attract more 3D animation orders to be placed in Hong Kong from around the world particularly North America. It will help Hong Kong grow into a major regional DCD centre.

I applaud CityU's vision in organising this programme. I congratulate the programme on its formal inauguration, and wish its staff and students all the success in the years to come. Thank you.

End/Thursday, October 14, 1999

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