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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (June 24) visited two local creative companies to listen to their views on the Government's latest efforts to promote the industry.
Based on the recommendations by the Task Force on Economic Challenges (TFEC), the Government has come up with a series of measures to further develop six industries with good potential.
The Chief Executive first visited Bliss Concepts Limited, the creator of the famous cartoon characters "McDull" and "McMug".
Mr Tsang was encouraged to see that the company, which started its business in comics in the early 1990s, has now matured into an established enterprise straddling different media and product lines. Its productions are well received not just on the Mainland and in Taiwan, but also overseas countries such as France, Korea, Thailand and Japan.
During the visit, Mr Tsang previewed the latest MuDull animation film which will be released in Hong Kong and the Mainland in the coming summer vacation.
"I am pleased to learn that the film has been granted government funding of $3.6 million from the Film Development Fund, amounting to 30% of the film¡¦s budget.
"To train talent for the film industry, the TFEC has proposed to introduce elements of film and animation in the new secondary school curriculum of visual arts through the Film Development Fund. Such early exposure will cultivate student interest in creative industries," Mr Tsang said.
He noted that the Government's $300 million CreateSmart Initiative would help fund projects conducive to the development of creative industries, such as the nurturing of talent.
Mr Tsang said he was also impressed by Bliss¡¦s not-for-profit operation to promote arts education for youth. The company's initiative is in line with the TFEC¡¦s proposal.
The Chief Executive then proceeded to Gameone, a digital entertainment group which functions as a media publisher, game developer and game agent.
Founded in 2000, Gameone has developed Hong Kong's first multi-functional online game service platform. Its business has extended from Hong Kong to Mainland China, Taiwan, the USA and Southeast Asia.
The company has won numerous digital entertainment awards. Its game series on Gulong's martial arts novels in particular was the first Hong Kong online game selected by China's General Administration of Press and Publication for the "China National Online Game Publication Project".
Mr Tsang said he was glad to learn that renowned American and Japanese game companies have authorised the local group to produce highly popular online games.
"This shows that the creativity and quality of local game developers is world-class," he said, adding that Hong Kong¡¦s game industry, with an asset value of over HK$500 million, is a strength that should not be ignored.
Mr Tsang said the Government would help local creative companies to make further inroads into the Mainland market. "Several liberalisation measures have already been introduced under the framework of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). China's Ministry of Culture, for example, has recently shortened the vetting time of online game software produced in Hong Kong to two months," he said, adding that the Government would continue to seek more liberalisation measures under the CEPA.
To enhance support for creative industries, the Government has set up a new office, Create Hong Kong, to co-ordinate efforts and resources among bureaux and departments.
Other TFEC-related measures include facilitating the conversion or redevelopment of under-utilised industrial buildings to provide more usable floor space and land for the cultural and creative industries, as well as organising more major regional events which can be expanded to become signature events for creative industries in the region.
In the medium term, the government will review its procurement policy for public projects to put greater emphasis on creative industries and facilitate participation by SMEs with creative expertise.
Ends/Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:47
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