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A Creative Hong Kong pavilion showcasing the achievements of Hong Kong's cultural and creative industries opened today (May 16) at the 4th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) in Shenzhen.
The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, officiated at the opening ceremony of the pavilion at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning and launched a series of events organised for the exhibition's Hong Kong Day.
Before the ceremony, Mr Tsang addressed a high-level forum organised by the ICIF under the theme "Developing cultural industries in China: opportunities and challenges".
"The scale of Hong Kong's presence in this year's ICIF is unprecedented. It vividly demonstrates our determination to spur the development of cultural and creative industries and the importance we attach to synergy and co-operation with the Mainland. We strive to promote the best parts of our creative industries to the mainland market.
"In recent years, neighbouring places have been investing heavily in creative industries. Facing increasingly intense competition, the development of Hong Kong's creative industries must be bolstered and co-operation with our neighbours, particularly the Pan-PRD region, must be strengthened to enhance competitiveness and maintain their edge.
Mr Tsang pointed out the way forward for the creative industries in Hong Kong and on the Mainland, saying that the two places had to complement each to achieve synergy. There should be also enhanced partnership between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to maintain competitiveness in the international arena and build a metropolis together.
The Creative Hong Kong pavilion is jointly staged by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Home Affairs Bureau, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
The exhibition's Hong Kong Day features a host of activities to strengthen exchanges and co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the areas of creative industries, culture and arts. These include a forum on "Creative business opportunities: the Formula of Success" at which elite from the film, design, digital and performing arts industries share their experience in using creativity in brand building, movie-making and cultural performances.
Addressing the forum, Mr Ma said, "The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the development of creative industries. We are devising a comprehensive strategic plan to provide support to the industries; developing creative economy of the territory; and promoting Hong Kong as a creative metropolis. We hope to facilitate co-operation and exchange with other parts of the world to complement each other and create more business opportunities."
"Hong Kong already had many successful examples of transforming creative ideas into business opportunities, which can be proved by an annual contribution of $53 billion to the Gross Domestic Product by our creative industries," he said.
He said that with creative minds, the film industry players had produced a large number of high quality movies. Film products exported by Hong Kong in 2006 amounted to a total value of $15 billion. Hong Kong comic figures McMug and Mcdull have jumped out of the box to appear in a series of commercial products, such as films, advertisements, souvenirs and stationery, all well-received by the market.
With an interactive and multimedia display, the Creative Hong Kong pavilion (Booth No T052 in Hall 1) exhibited the outstanding works of Hong Kong's creative industries to recognise their originality and excellence under the following five theme zones:
1. 3-D Theatre
The 3-D Theatre premiered a 3-D short video produced with the latest technology and equipment and presented to the participants a lively walk-through of the accomplishments of Hong Kong's creative industries. Produced by the computer animation and digital effects crew from the films "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Shaolin Soccer", the short video was shown in Asia for the first time for the advance viewing of the Mainland audience at the fair, bringing them an unprecedented audio-visual experience.
2. Form and Aura: Architecture and Interior Design
Winning entries of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Awards and Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards were featured to demonstrate the capabilities of Hong Kong's architects and interior designers.
3. Ideas and Inspiration: Design, Marketing and Advertising
Various design, marketing and advertising winning projects were exhibited to show Hong Kong designers' meticulous fusion of East and West aesthetics and culture in their designs.
4. Arts and Culture
Exhibits featured Hong Kong's vibrant and multi-faceted cultural and performing arts industries, as well as the West Kowloon Cultural District project.
5. Light and Shadow: Film and Entertainment
Outstanding works on Hong Kong's film, television, music, digital entertainment and comics were showcased.
The exhibition runs until Monday (May 19).
Ends/Friday, May 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:42
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