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Creative industries in the Mainland were today (October 13) encouraged to use Hong Kong, Asia's creative hub, as their ideal platform to "Go Global". Speaking at a seminar on creative industries in Shanghai, Associate Director of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Ms Victoria Tang, said, "Hong Kong is an international city with a heavy cluster of creative industries coming from all over the world, focusing on media, multi-media, design and architecture, offering a strong pool of creative talent.
"Together with Hong Kong's enduring advantages as the world's freest economy, its low and simple tax regime, rule of law and free flow of information, the city stands as an ideal platform for Mainland creative industry companies to go global," Ms Tang said.
The seminar titled "Business Expansion through Establishment in Hong Kong - Seminar on Creative Industries", is an Invest Hong Kong programme for Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo). It is co-organised by Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Shanghai and Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce, and supported by Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong Cyberport and Create Hong Kong.
Director of the HKETO in Shanghai, Mr Patrick Chan, delivered welcome remarks to representatives from Shanghai's creative industries. Speakers from Crystal Computer Graphics Ltd (Crystal CG) and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) also spoke about art, design and multi-media at the seminar.
Crystal CG is a Mainland digital 3D technology company, which successfully completed several multi-media projects for the Shanghai Expo, including the famous Qing Ming scroll featured in the China Pavilion. Sharing his successful experience in going global using Hong Kong as a platform at the seminar, Marketing Executive of Crystal CG, Mr Ivan Fung, said, "Hong Kong has several fundamental strengths such as strategic geographic location, high quality services and a pool of talented people with an international outlook and proficiency in English. In the course of going global, Mainland enterprises should first set up a business in Hong Kong in order to adapt to the international business environment before expanding abroad."
"The development of digital visual technology in Hong Kong and the Mainland is different. While the Mainland takes the lead in technical aspects, Hong Kong is ahead in terms of creativity. There should be more interaction and exchange between Hong Kong and the Mainland," Mr Fung said.
"Hong Kong has been our base for setting up the offices in Singapore, London and Dubai. Our team in Hong Kong has undertaken the planning and implementation work and sent Hong Kong staff to manage these offices, enabling Crystal CG to reach out and go further in promoting Chinese creativity to the world," he added.
SCAD, a renowned art, design and digital media university that will soon open its fourth campus in Hong Kong, aims to develop the next generation of creative leadership through an inspiring university environment. Vice President of SCAD Hong Kong, Mr John Paul Rowan, said, "We determined that the ideal location for another SCAD campus was a sophisticated international city with a significant, ongoing need for creative talent. We believe Hong Kong is that city - a place where SCAD students and professors can partner with cultural and business organisations and where our graduates can pursue professional careers."
During the seminar, Head of Information Technology Operations of Cyberport, Dr David Chung; Senior Manager (Industry Support) of Create Hong Kong, Ms Christine Chie; and Executive Director of Hong Kong Design Center, Dr Edmund Lee, delivered speeches titled "Fostering Digital Creative Industry Development - Hong Kong Cyberport", "CreateHK's Support to Hong Kong Creative Industries" and "Hong Kong Creative Ecologies - A Better Tomorrow for Business" respectively.
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas, Mainland and Taiwanese businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As it celebrates its 10th anniversary, Invest Hong Kong has completed over 2,000 investment projects creating over 25,000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$52 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For details about Hong Kong at World Expo 2010, please visit www.hkexpo2010.gov.hk
Ends/Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:01
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