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Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, at the Opening Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (March 22):
Mr Tong (Director of Film Bureau, The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television), Jack (Jack So, Chairman of HKTDC and Chairman of Film Development Council), Fred (Fred Lam, Executive Director of HKTDC), Tony (Tony Leung, Entertainment Expo Ambassador), friends, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening.
It's indeed my great pleasure to join you this evening. Welcome to the opening of the Entertainment Expo 2010.
I attended this event two years ago. Back then we had just rolled out digital terrestrial television in time for viewers to enjoy the very successful Beijing Olympics on TV in High Definition.
I remember being extremely impressed by the quality of High Definition images. Since then, there have been giant leaps in the development of the local and international entertainment industries.
In Hong Kong, the geographical coverage of our digital television network has grown to 85% of our population, with close to one million families now enjoying regular digital television viewing.
We are now embarking upon the development of further digital broadcasting services. Before long, people will be able to experience quality digital entertainment, at home or on the move, via radio, television, and on their mobile phones. Of course, this will be in addition to the online offerings already available via computer. Hong Kong will be one of the most digitally connected cities in the world.
There have been significant developments in other areas too. We have witnessed the coming of the age of 3-D movies, which have captured the imagination of our industry as well as the hearts of the audience.
Many of our local cinemas have carried out the necessary work to set up 3-D compliant screens. In the Hong Kong Pavilion at Shanghai Expo this year, we will also have a 3-D video that brings to visitors from all over the world the dynamic city life of Hong Kong. I am delighted that the production of 3-D films is a major theme in this year's Entertainment Expo. This is most timely.
Focusing on films, our local film industry is doing extremely well. Last year, Hong Kong films won 52 awards in film festivals and competitions around the world. Of the top 10 Chinese language box office hits in Mainland China last year, seven were Hong Kong-Mainland co-productions.
Most recently, the Hong Kong-produced film Echoes of the Rainbow (·³¤ë¯«°½) won the Crystal Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival. I mention this film for two reasons. First, it is a small, locally produced film with a very unique Hong Kong theme. And secondly, it is one of the first films to emerge as a direct result of support from the Government's Film Development Fund.
All these successes I have just mentioned have been the result of hard work, creativity and innovation of Hong Kong talent. So it should come as no surprise that Hong Kong has recently been ranked as the most innovative economy in Asia and third in the world in the prestigious and authoritative Global Innovation Index.
The Hong Kong Government is fully committed to developing our creative industries. Indeed, we have identified creative and cultural industries as one of the key economic areas with a strong potential to grow in Hong Kong.
Since its launch in 2005, this Expo has become a signature event for the Asian entertainment business. I congratulate the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on organising this Expo and thank the local and regional entertainment industry for your staunch support.
Well done, Jack and Fred. I certainly would like to thank Tony for your very staunch support for Hong Kong.
You have all helped to make this event a great success and I wish you another memorable and successful Entertainment Expo.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Monday, March 22, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:03
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