Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2014 (English only) (with photos/video)
************************************************************

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, at the Opening Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2014 this evening (March 24):

Jack (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Mr Jack So), Fred (Executive Director of the HKTDC, Mr Fred Lam), Peter (Chairman of the HKTDC Entertainment Industry Advisory Committee, Mr Peter Lam), Leon (Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador, Mr Leon Lai), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

     Good evening.

     It is my great honour to join members of Hong Kong's entertainment industry and our friends from around the world to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong. Congratulations to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on successfully organising this event for the past decade.

     The Entertainment Expo showcases Hong Kong's unique qualities as a centre for creativity in Asia. First and foremost, the entertainment industry is all about people. Hong Kong is an open society. Our city has open borders. Our people have open minds. It is second nature for us to welcome new friends from around the world, embrace new ideas and turn our hands to new ways of doing things.

     We also maintain a free and open economy based on our core values of the rule of law, equality and free flows of people, ideas and information. This provides a fertile platform for creative endeavours.

     The business of entertainment benefits greatly also from Hong Kong's advanced telecommunications infrastructure, low and simple tax system and robust intellectual property protection regime.

     Over the past decade, this Expo has become an ideal platform to promote our film, television, music and digital entertainment to the world. Equally important, it is a meeting place for industry professionals from different parts of the world to share their creative ideas and business initiatives for promoting creative content and services.

     This year's Expo features nine multimedia events, including mega industry events. For example, FILMART is now the second largest trade fair in the world for the film and television industries in terms of the number of exhibitors. Last year, it attracted 710 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. Internationally renowned producers, distributors, investors and professionals use FILMART to launch promotions and negotiate deals.

     The Hong Kong Government is a firm supporter of creative industries. We strive to enhance the overall competitiveness of our entertainment industry by nurturing talent, tapping new markets and promoting sustainable development. Among other things, the Government has been sponsoring various Entertainment Expo programmes over the past several years.

     Last year we injected $300 million into our CreateSmart Initiative which is a funding scheme to support the creative industries. We are also reviewing the Film Development Fund with a view to boosting support for the local film industry. We will spare no effort in promoting the development of our creative industries.

     I believe it is important for the Government to work with cultural and creative industries so that we can provide the right resources and nurture an enabling environment for different sectors to fulfil their potential. In Hong Kong we support events, promote creative clusters and give free rein to creative thinking.

     We also enjoy close collaboration with partners, not just in Hong Kong, but also around the world. We listen to their ideas on the best ways to develop our creative industries and open up new entertainment markets and opportunities in the Mainland of China.

     On this 10th anniversary edition of the Entertainment Expo, I thank Fred and his team at the Trade Development Council as well as the organisers of the nine events under the Expo umbrella for their excellent work over the years. I would also like to say a special "thank you" to Leon Lai for taking an "encore" by agreeing to be our Entertainment Ambassador again this year.

     I wish you all a very enjoyable and successful Entertainment Expo Hong Kong.

     Thank you very much.

Ends/Monday, March 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:24

NNNN