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Creative Industries
44. To promote the development of creative industries, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau will set up a dedicated Creative Industry Office with integrated and realigned resources from related departments, including the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, and the Trade and Industry Department. The new Office will co-ordinate the work of different departments and work closely with the trades to boost the development of creative industries. It will also consider providing more effective support for our creative industries through integration of resources.
Business and Commerce Development
45. To maintain our position as a convention and exhibition capital, we need to increase the exhibition area of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The atrium link expansion of the HKCEC will be completed next year. The Government and the TDC are examining the feasibility of a Phase 3 expansion of the HKCEC at a nearby site. We will embark on detailed studies and public consultation as soon as possible.
46. We will also strengthen collaboration among agencies responsible for promoting Hong Kong overseas, including the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, TDC, Invest Hong Kong and Hong Kong Tourism Board, in developing strategies for city branding and publicity.
Wine Trade
47. Following the exemption of wine duty in February 2008, the Government has taken various measures to promote the development of wine-related businesses.
48. To complement efforts to develop wine trading and distribution businesses in Hong Kong, the wine industry has been looking for a venue suitable for multiple uses such as auction, retail and wholesale, wine appreciation, food and beverage, storage, exhibition, wine school and museum. As we take forward the revitalisation of historic buildings, we have identified some buildings with commercial value that can serve such purposes on a trial basis. To test market and community reaction, we plan to designate Haw Par Mansion for commercial uses, including wine-related businesses. We will invite expressions of interest early next year.
Optimising Human Capital
Attracting Talent
49. To attract more talent to Hong Kong, we maintain an open immigration policy. In 2007, more than 33,000 talented people from the Mainland and overseas came to live and work in Hong Kong -- almost double the tally of five years ago. To expand our pool of talent, we launched the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme in June 2006. As a further step, in January this year, we relaxed some restrictions under the Scheme. So far, more than 700 applicants have been accepted under the Scheme.
Investing in Education
50. From the 2008-09 school year, the Government has fully subsidised students in public secondary schools, including senior secondary education. The New Senior Secondary Curriculum will be implemented from the 2009-10 school year. This will mark a key milestone in our educational development. The curriculum and assessment changes aim to promote whole-person development and life-long learning among students. We will give full support to schools in implementing these initiatives. In parallel, we will continue to commit additional resources to enhance the quality of English teaching and learning.
Keeping Teaching Resources Up-to-date
51. To enhance students' ability for self-learning and interactive learning, and to promote the use of e-books rather than printed copies, we will look into the development of electronic learning resources. The use and prices of school textbooks have become a public concern. Some people have pointed out that the frequently-revised textbooks have imposed a financial burden on parents in recent years. We will invite information technology experts, parents, school principals, teachers, publishers and others to form a task force to study these issues in detail. We will draw on international experience in formulating long-term measures to alleviate the financial burden on parents and to facilitate learning.
Expanding the International School Sector
52. Following the delivery of the 2007-08 Policy Address, the Government earmarked four greenfield sites and four vacant school premises for international schools. We invited all international schools and other interested parties to express interest in those sites and premises, and received an overwhelming response. We have completed the allocation exercise for the vacant school premises, and we expect that the schools concerned will start running classes in the coming two school years. As for the four greenfield sites, we will, by year-end, ask the 31 organisations that have expressed interest to submit their proposed school plans.
(To be continued)
Ends/Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:40
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