****************************************
A Hong Kong delegation on digital entertainment took part for the first time in the prestigious Tokyo Game Show held on September 20 to 22 in Japan to promote Hong Kong's digital entertainment industry in the international market.
The 25-member delegation, led by the Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Information, Technology and Broadcasting), Mr Alan Siu, comprised representatives from local digital entertainment industry, the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Trade Development Council and leading academics in the field.
Mr Siu said that the Show provided a valuable opportunity for the local digital entertainment industry to demonstrate its expertise and talents in the development and production of digital entertainment, and to explore business opportunities in the international market.
"We have set up a pavilion to showcase Hong Kong's capabilities in digital game development and production, animation, as well as visual effect. The pavilion also provided information about Hong Kong's digital entertainment companies and games developed by local talents.
"The Government is committed to promoting the development of the local digital entertainment industry. In this regard, a working group on digital entertainment industry was set up under the Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee to advise the Government on how to support the development of the industry," Mr Siu said.
Apart from taking part in the Game Show, the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade office in Tokyo also hosted a networking luncheon to update Japanese companies on the development of Hong Kong's digital entertainment industry and to enable them to meet with Hong Kong delegates to explore collaboration opportunities. Guests attending the event included senior representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association, Sony Computer Entertainment, Atlus, etc.
Speaking at the luncheon, Mr Siu highlighted that Hong Kong was Japan's strategic partner to develop digital entertainment in the Asia Pacific.
"Hong Kong has advanced information infrastructure, technology-savvy and creative talents to develop digital entertainment."
"With China's accession to WTO, Hong Kong can be the strategic partner of Japanese digital entertainment companies to explore the huge Mainland market," Mr Siu said.
Mr Siu also took the opportunity to invite Japanese companies to attend the ITU Telecom Asia 2002, the Asia Game Show and the Hong Kong Information Infrastructure Expo to be held in Hong Kong in the coming months to explore collaboration opportunities.
The delegation would visit Sony Computer Entertainment and ISAO (a Sega's subsidiary company) and Microsoft before returning to Hong Kong.
End/Monday, September 23, 2002
NNNN
