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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, at the Award Presentation Ceremony of the Third Hong Kong Mobile Film Production Contest today (March 25):
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the award presentation ceremony of the Third Hong Kong Mobile Film Production Contest, and to congratulate all the contestants for the excellent works they have produced.
Hong Kong is a front-runner in the development of 3G mobile technologies and services. Since the launch of 3G mobile services in Hong Kong five years ago, the number of 3G and 3.5G mobile service subscribers has grown remarkably quickly, reaching about 3.7 million or one-third of the 12 million mobile phone users in Hong Kong. The rapid take up of this technology has enabled many of us to access a wide variety of infotainment content through our mobile phones. The systems now in place are more than just a communications platform but increasingly offer lifestyle and other services with enormous potential.
Last month, the Government announced the implementation details and timetable for the launching of broadcast-type mobile TV services. The organisation of this year's Hong Kong Mobile Film Festival and the Mobile Film Production Contest is most timely. Indeed, the films now being produced tap into the potential of this emerging market, provide a valuable platform for our young talent to showcase their creativity, and stimulate public awareness and interest in mobile infotainment content.
I was impressed to learn that this year's Mobile Film Production Contest received some 150 high quality entries covering a wide variety of different genres, from animation to live action and from comedy to romance. The winning entries are fabulous. I would like to congratulate all the award winners for their outstanding productions. Their inspiration and creativity are clear testimony to what I have long believed to be one of Hong Kong's great strengths: our ability to adapt to changes in technology through a combination of originality and technical excellence. This has allowed us to develop into a production centre for mobile contents in Asia.
Hong Kong will take the excellent opportunity at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai to promote the city as a modern, vibrant and interconnected metropolis with high quality city life built on creativity and innovation. I am glad to note that the organisers will ride on this to screen award-winning mobile films and stage a Hong Kong Mobile Film Talent Exchange Forum for industry professionals and contest winners from the Mainland and Hong Kong to share experience on mobile film productions during the Expo period.
It really gives me great pleasure to congratulate the organisers, Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association, Hong Kong Productivity Council and the judging panel for staging such a successful and meaningful event this year. Their efforts are important to the ongoing development of the successful and sustainable creative industries in Hong Kong.
Thank you.
Ends/Thursday, March 25, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:16
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