The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will set up a special office this year to develop creative industries amid the global economic downturn, a top commerce official of the HKSAR government said Saturday.
Speaking at a radio show here Saturday, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of HKSAR government Rita Lau said the government's plan to set up "Create Hong Kong" office will be submitted to the Legislative Council's finance committee and establishment subcommittee in May.
"Hopefully the office will be set up in June," she said, adding "the director of the office will be appointed through an open recruitment exercise."
An additional 300 million HK dollars (38.7 million U.S. dollars) has been earmarked to promote the continuous development of local creative industries in the HKSAR government's Budget.
Lau said the office will manage the fund and provide one-stop service such as fund approvals, marketing and nurturing young creative professionals.
"Hong Kong's creative industries have a lot of potential, especially in film, design, animation and comics, digital media technology, advertising and architecture," she said.
HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang and the task force on economic challenges agreed on Friday to explore ways to further develop six economic areas in which Hong Kong enjoys clear advantages.
Creative industries typically include industries that focus on creating and exploiting intellectual property products such as music, books, film and games or providing business-to-business creative services including advertising, public relations and direct marketing. |
