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COMMUNICATIONS, THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Highways Department, promulgated a set of guidelines in March 2001. Under this mechanism, the office is responsible for coordinating the processing of such applications by other departments; 102 applications for lane closures were approved in 2003.

To promote Hong Kong films internationally, the Film Services Office facilitated the organisation of Hong Kong Film Festivals in Antwerp, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Washington DC and Seoul. The Film Services Office also promoted Hong Kong as a choice for location filming at the global expositions 'Locations 2003' and 'Busan International Film Commission & Industry Showcase'. During the year, 157 overseas crews, including the production team of the Hollywood film Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, carried out location filming in Hong Kong.

The Film Development Fund, which was established in 1999, provides financial support to a wide variety of projects that can enhance the professional and technological capabilities of the film industry so as to strengthen its competitiveness. By year-end, a total of $47 million had been approved for 68 projects to promote the development of the local film industry. They included training courses, workshops, seminars, consultancy studies, surveys, film awards presentation ceremonies, overseas promotional projects as well as sponsorship for Hong Kong films' participation in overseas film festivals.

The $50 million Film Guarantee Fund was established in April 2003 on a pilot basis for two years. It seeks to assist local film production companies to obtain loans from local lending institutions for film production. It also serves to stimulate the establishment of a film financing infrastructure in Hong Kong. The fund provided loan guarantees for four film projects and the total amount guaranteed was $8.63 million.

With the commencement of the Entertainment Special Effects Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation on March 16, 2001, a streamlined regulatory system is now in place to facilitate the use of pyrotechnic materials for producing special effects for films, television and theatrical productions. Under this legislation, the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing is the Entertainment Special Effects Licensing Authority responsible for licensing special effects operators; issuing discharge permits; registering and regulating the supply, conveyance and storage of pyrotechnic special effects materials. In 2003, the Authority processed a total of 1 192 applications, representing an increase of 42 per cent and 73 per cent over 2002 and 2001, respectively. This indicates that the regulatory system has been well received and utilised by the industry.

Postal Services

Hongkong Post provides reliable, efficient and universal postal services at affordable prices to meet the needs of Hong Kong and its international postal obligations. Since August 1, 1995, Hongkong Post has operated as a trading fund department. This gives it a higher degree of flexibility in resource management and enables it to respond more effectively to changes in markets and customer needs, improve productivity, efficiency and customer service, and introduce new services to its customers.

Leadership and Vision

Hongkong Post recognises that clear leadership and vision are essential to the evolution from a traditional, operationally focused government department to a