ENG-2009 — Page 434

362 Communications, the Media and Information Technology

Apart from the dedicated office, the Government also established a $300 million CreateSmart Initiative to provide funding support to projects conducive to driving development of creativity and creative industries.

Through concerted effort with stakeholders, the Government aims to foster an environment conducive to the development of creative industries. This will have particular emphasis on nurturing a pool of creative human capital which will form the backbone of our creative economy. It will facilitate the establishment of start-up companies and the development of creative establishments, generating demand for innovation and creativity and expanding local market size for creative industries. It will promote creative industries in the Mainland and overseas to help explore outside markets, fostering a creative atmosphere within the community and developing creative clusters in the territory that will generate synergy and facilitate exchanges that will promote Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital.

Film Industry

The film industry in Hong Kong is the flagship of the creative industries in Hong Kong. A total of 51 Hong Kong films (including Hong Kong-Mainland co-productions) were released in 2009. Their combined box-office receipts amounted to $242 million. By the end of 2009, Hong Kong had 48 cinemas, with 203 screens. Hong Kong's film industry has been recognised for its innovation and creativity regionally and internationally over the years. In 2009, Hong Kong films (including Hong Kong-Mainland co-productions) and artists won a total of 52 awards at 12 film festivals and competitions, held in the Mainland and overseas.

Hong Kong Film Development Council

The Government is committed to providing a favourable environment for the healthy long-term development of the film industry in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Film Development Council (HKFDC), established in April 2007, is responsible for advising the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development on the policy, strategy and institutional arrangement for the promotion and development of the film industry; the use of public funds to support the film industry; the planning, co-ordination and implementation of film-related activities; the manpower and training needs of the industry; and the promotion of film literacy in the community.

The HKFDC is chaired by a non-official and mainly comprises members from the film industry.

In December 2008, the HKFDC launched a large-scale project entitled 'Hong Kong Film New Action' and organised a series of promotional activities, including film delegation visits to the Mainland, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia between December 2008 and July 2009. It also supported business forums and promotional sessions during Entertainment Expo Hong Kong held in March 2009, which provided a platform for the industry players from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia to explore business opportunities. It also assisted Hong Kong new generation directors in promoting their film projects to investors from the Mainland and overseas.