ENG-2010 — Page 439

Communications, the Media and Information Technology | 369

Internet connectivity, training and technical support to cyber centres operated by community organisations in various districts. By the end of 2010, the District Cyber Centres scheme had extended its network to 57 affiliated district cyber centres.

Creative Industries

Create Hong Kong and CreateSmart Initiative

'Create Hong Kong' (CreateHK) is a dedicated office set up by the Government in June 2009. It drives the development of creative industries with a seven-pronged strategy formulated after consultation with the Legislative Council and the trade. The strategy comprises the following elements:

• nurturing a pool of creative human capital;

• facilitation of start-ups and development of creative establishments;

generation of demand for innovation and creativity and expansion of the local market size for creative industries;

• promotion of creative industries on the Mainland and overseas to help explore outside markets;

fostering a creative atmosphere within the community;

development of creative clusters in the territory to generate synergy and facilitate exchanges; and

• organisation of major events to promote Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital.

CreateHK administers the $300 million CreateSmart Initiative, established in June 2009, which provides funding support to creative events in line with the strategy. In 2010, $54.7 million was granted to support 29 projects, covering various creative sectors.

Creative Events

Through a concerted effort with stakeholders, CreateHK has been working to foster an environment conducive to the development of creative industries. In particular, it is committed to assisting industry groups in organising major creative events to attract enterprises, talent and academics in creative industries from around the world to visit the territory, thereby consolidating Hong Kong's status as Asia's creative capital.

These major events cover various creative sectors ranging from new initiatives to signature annual events. Examples of new initiatives were a forum organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture to encourage youngsters to develop creative thinking skills, and the 'Fashion World Talent Awards' organised by the Hong Kong Apparel Society. This competition combined three creative areas fashion design, image styling and fashion photography with the aim to discovering new generation fashion talents. Signature annual events include an 'Entertainment Expo' which is the largest event for the entertainment industry in Hong Kong, co-ordinated by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the