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The Central Policy Unit (CPU) today (September 16) released the findings of the Baseline Study on Hong Kong's Creative Industries. The study is the first attempt by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to define and map out the current state of creative industries in Hong Kong.

The year-long study was commissioned by the CPU and undertaken by the Centre for Cultural Policy Research of the University of Hong Kong. It covered 11 industrial sectors: namely, advertising; architecture; art, antiques & crafts; design; film & video; digital entertainment; music; performing arts; publishing; software & computing; and television & radio. It surveyed their economic values, size of employment, characteristics of the production chain, strengths and weaknesses, challenges ahead and the significance of the Mainland market.

The Head of the CPU, Professor Lau Siu-kai, said at the press conference, "The findings of the report will enable the community and the Government to better assess the potential of these industrial sectors for the new economy. It provides the basis for relevant bureaux and departments of the Government to consider how further concrete policy measures should be devised to create the necessary favourable environment to promote the development of these industries as envisaged in the Chief Executive's 2003 Policy Address.

"Experience elsewhere suggests that the creative sector is a growing economic domain which can make valuable contributions to the local economy and create many jobs. As a cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong offers the ideal environment for our people to deploy their ingenuity and imagination in this particular economic activity," Professor Lau added.

The study estimated that creative industries contributed over $46 billion to the local economy in 2001, accounting for 3.8 per cent of GDP. There were over 30,000 establishments engaging 170,000 persons in 2002. Despite the general economic downturn, there has been a real increase in the number of establishments (about 22%) and people employed in these sectors (11%) over the period 1996-2002.

The creative industries are about transforming intangible assets into production processes and distribution of goods or services of symbolic values and social meanings. The Director of the Centre for Cultural Policy Research, the University of Hong Kong, Dr Desmond Hui, said, "Creative industries are not new and many traditional economic activities are encompassed in them; but the conception of creative industries is a timely analytical tool to help us understand the new economic reality. It helps to facilitate policy formulation and academic research. The study mainly focuses on the economic aspects of creative industries but its findings also have wider implications on the cultural configuration of society."

The CPU will hold a public seminar on September 24, 2003 with prominent speakers from the fields and group discussion to focus community attention on this important subject.

The full report of the Baseline Study on Hong Kong's Creative Industries has been uploaded on the website: http://www.info.gov.hk/cpu.

End/Tuesday, September 16, 2003

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( Floor / Cantonese / Putonghua / English )