Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung (right) speaks at a news conference at the Government Complex in Admiralty on Oct 29, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Up to 40 percent more manpower will be added to the newly established Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, which will be restructured from the existing CreateHK Office in Wan Chai, to hasten Hong Kong’s cultural and art project development, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said on Sunday. 

According to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s second Policy Address delivered on Wednesday, the new agency is aimed at further promoting the industrialization of creativity. It will offer greater help for practitioners in eight major creative industries in the special administrative region in seeking promising projects and deepening collaboration among various sectors. 

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency will offer more opportunities for these industries to participate in overseas exhibitions and conventions to help them expand their global markets

The CCIDA will offer more opportunities for these industries to participate in overseas exhibitions and conventions to help them expand their global markets, Yeung told a press conference held to explain the initiatives of the Policy Address. 

The CreateHK Office, located on the 40th floor of Revenue Tower, was launched in June 2019 to drive the development of local cultural industries and future economic growth. 

Another cultural initiative unveiled in the Policy Address is to establish a filming financing program to support Hong Kong and mainland cultural enterprises in investing in Hong Kong productions for the mainland market. 

Joe Wong Chi-cho, permanent secretary for culture, sports and tourism, said the current funding programs for Hong Kong films focus mainly on small-scale films. The SAR government intends to expand these programs to reach more beneficiaries. Eligible films to be released on the mainland would have to be on a larger scale. 

The influence of Hong Kong productions on the mainland market — a major international film market -- would be expanded. Wong hopes the new funding initiative would offer more opportunities for Hong Kong film professionals, such as directors, scriptwriters, and actors and actresses, to engage in high-quality productions. 

According to government sources, qualified film projects would receive a HK$10-million ($7.8 million) subsidy. The government plans to fund 20 films in the next two to three years. 

Directors and producers of funded films must be Hong Kong permanent residents, while the lead and supporting actors or actresses must include at least two permanent Hong Kong residents. 

This year’s Policy Address reflects the government’s commitment to promoting popular culture in the SAR. 

Yeung said more venues and performance opportunities will be provided for artistes. However, he said various factors would have to be considered concerning street performances, such as pedestrian flow, sound impact and potential interference in the surrounding environment, traffic, as well as the operations of businesses. He emphasized it’s necessary to consult various stakeholders to strike a balance. 

To meet the growing demand for spaces for performances, Yeung said venues run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will be better utilized, such using as the outdoor space near Sha Tin Town Hall as a performance venue. It will also explore having more open-air performance spaces in other locations. 

On the future development of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Yeung said the facility will continue to be used primarily for cruise vessels to berth. Organizing more business activities at the venue’s 5,600-square-meter commercial area would have a positive effect on the development of the local cruise-tourism industry, he said.