New agency launched to promote arts, culture, creative sectors

Alysha Bibi

The Hong Kong government is taking steps to promote the city's cultural and creative industries and explore more business opportunities overseas.

To this end, the government established the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency yesterday.

The agency is a revamp of the previous Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) office, which was set up in 2009 to support the development of local creative industries.

The plan to establish the new agency was announced in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's policy address last October.

The official launch ceremony took place at the PMQ in Central yesterday. Speaking at the event, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said the agency marks an important milestone for Hong Kong's art, culture and creative sectors.

"The agency will set up a dedicated team to help relevant industries identify overseas opportunities and arrange delegations to global showcases," Yeung said.

The goal is to promote and export Hong Kong's vibrant cultural and creative offerings, foster new business opportunities and enhance the city's international status, he said.

"Under the industry-oriented principle, the agency will help further promote our cultural, arts and creative industries' development, aligning with the National 14th Five-Year Plan, allowing Hong Kong to position itself as the center for international cultural exchange," Yeung said.

The agency will also work to facilitate the creation and production of cultural intellectual property, while exploring additional business and commercialization opportunities to generate greater economic benefits for the industry.

Yeung recognized the efforts of the previous CreateHK office, noting that in its 15 years of operation the eight major creative industries under its purview saw their combined added value increase from HK$38.7 billion to HK$63.5 billion.

These eight creative sectors include advertising, architecture, design, digital entertainment, film, music, printing and publishing and television.

Victor Tsang Chiu-hok, the head of CreateHK and Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, announced the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with three prominent cultural and creative brands from the mainland, hoping to showcase more Chinese cultural and creative products, including Hong Kong's unique charm.

Looking ahead, the new Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency aims to build on this progress and further elevate Hong Kong's status as a hub for international cultural exchange and a showcase for the city's vibrant creative talent.