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Following is a question by the Hon Christopher Chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, in the Legislative Council today (April 22):
Question:
The Working Group on Manufacturing Industries, Innovative Technology, and Cultural and Creative Industries (MICWG) is one of the four working groups under the Economic Development Commission established in January 2013 and chaired by the Chief Executive. Regarding the work of the MICWG and the development of arts and cultural industry in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of meetings held and the issues discussed by the MICWG since its establishment; among such issues, the percentage of those relating to the arts and cultural industry;
(2) as the ambit of the MICWG includes consideration of how the Government may "further promote Hong Kong's design industry and strengthen Hong Kong's role in the art trade (e.g. staging of ArtHK)", what concrete proposals in this respect have been put forward by the MICWG;
(3) whether the authorities will consider including "facilitating the entry of Hong Kong's arts and cultural industry into the mainland market" in the MICWG's ambit; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) given that the internationally renowned Art Basel has staged exhibitions annually in Hong Kong since 2013 and attracted quite a number of overseas galleries coming to Hong Kong to participate in the exhibitions, which promote Hong Kong's art trade market, whether the MICWG has studied ways to help Hong Kong's arts and cultural industry to develop overseas markets through the exhibitions; if it has studied, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(5) as the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development is currently the only ex-officio member of the MICWG, whether the authorities will consider appointing the Secretary for Home Affairs, whose policy portfolio includes arts and culture, to be an ex-officio member of the MICWG; if they will not, of the reasons for that; given the fact that a culture bureau will not be established in the near future, whether the authorities will consider setting up a high-level inter-departmental task force to be responsible for the development of Hong Kong's arts and cultural industry?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to the development of industries. The Economic Development Commission (EDC) established in 2013 and led personally by the Chief Executive provides visionary direction and advice on the overall strategy and policy to broaden Hong Kong's economic base and to enhance Hong Kong's economic growth and development; and to explore and identify growth sectors or clusters of sectors which present opportunities for Hong Kong's further economic growth, and recommend possible policy and other support measures for these industries.
The four Working Groups under the EDC, including the Working Group on Manufacturing Industries, Innovative Technology, and Cultural and Creative Industries (MICWG), have actively discussed possible policy and measures for promoting the development of relevant industries. The MICWG has progressively submitted specific recommendations on the policy and measures for supporting individual sectors for the EDC's endorsement, and for the Government's consideration and implementation as appropriate.
In response to the five-part question, my consolidated reply is as follows:
(1) to (2) Since its establishment in 2013, the MICWG has held eight meetings. With regard to the industries under its ambit, the MICWG generally considers that Government support policies and measures should focus on four main areas, namely, nurturing and attracting talents; infrastructural support; Government institutional support and tapping into the Mainland market; as well as encouraging collaboration between various business sectors and the innovative technology and cultural and creative industries. In the past two years, the MICWG has made a number of specific recommendations for promoting the cultural and creative industries, including offering overseas internship opportunities to talents in the design sector, supporting the post-production sector of the film industry, and supporting the sustainable development of the fashion industry. These recommendations have been endorsed by the EDC and accepted by the Government.
(3) to (5) The Government has capitalised on Art Basel Hong Kong (Art Basel HK) since its inception in 2013 to promote local art development and local artists. For example, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) organised a number of exhibitions featuring the works by local artists at its venues during the Art Basel HK period, thus providing local and overseas visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the local art scene and artists. On the other hand, overseas visitors attending Art Basel HK were invited to visit LCSD museums; and Art Basel HK and LCSD museums would cross-distribute their promotional materials.
Moreover, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) has been actively organising exhibitions and events during the Art Basel HK to promote Hong Kong's art, M+ and the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) to the international arts community. For example, during this year's Art Basel HK, M+ presented its inaugural moving image project "Mobile M+: Moving Images" with thematic screenings to explore ideas of contemporary migration, mobility and home, as well as an exhibition of works from M+'s growing moving image collection. The WKCDA also held its annual press conference at the fair venue to provide an update on the WKCD project, and attended, as speakers, seminars and talks on Hong Kong's art and museum practices held during the fair period to enable participants to know more about Hong Kong's art and M+.
The MICWG will continue to examine possible directions for supporting the development of industries (including the cultural and arts industries), and study and discuss possible measures in coordination with relevant government bureaux or departments as appropriate so as to make specific recommendations to the EDC. Moreover, the senior management of the Home Affairs Bureau, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and LCSD also have meetings regularly to exchange views on policy issues regarding the promotion and development of the cultural and creative industries.
Ends/Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:20
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