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With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, three Hong Kong films, "Motorway" by Cheang Pou-soi, "The Viral Factor" by Dante Lam and "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" by Tsui Hark, are being screened at the 45th Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, Spain, from October 4 to October 14.
Speaking at the Hong Kong Cocktail of the film festival held today (October 6, Sitges time), the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Mary Chow, said that the focus on Hong Kong cinema is particularly timely as Hong Kong has just celebrated its 15th anniversary as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on July 1.
"Whilst it is our role as a government to implement the necessary policies to promote and support the creative industries, it is equally, if not more, important to ensure that the right environment is in place for them to flourish. This we have done, thanks to our constitutional document, the Basic Law, which guarantees freedom of speech and free flow of capital, information and ideas," she said.
Miss Chow told guests that Hong Kong is also building the necessary infrastructure to support the development of creativity.
"From 2015 onwards, the West Kowloon Cultural District that we are building on a 40-hectare waterfront site will start coming into operation. One of the landmark facilities in the West Kowloon Cultural District will be a contemporary arts museum, which recently received an important private donation of contemporary Chinese works."
Miss Chow said that the cultural scene in Hong Kong is very vibrant with great artists, musicians, dancers and choreographers, and the city is also making its mark in the field of design. But above all, Hong Kong is proud of its film talents.
"They have brought pleasure, excitement and inspiration to millions of audiences around the world. They have received critical acclaim and international awards. For many years, they have been the best ambassadors of our city through their films."
The Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival is a major fantasy film festival in the world attended by top-level film stars, directors and producers. Accompanying their film "Motorway", Hong Kong Director Pou-Soi Cheang, actor Shawn Yue and representative of the distribution company Frederick Tsui are present at the Film Festival this year.
Hong Kong films were also the focus of two other international film festivals in July this year, namely the Paris Cinema International Film Festival in France from June 29 to July 10 and the Asian Film Festival in Vic, near Barcelona in Spain, from July 12 to 21.
These film festivals are among the events supported or organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels in major European cities to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR.
Ends/Sunday, October 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 02:30
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