Good prospects seen for digital entertainment industry

Digital entertainment, which emphasises knowledge, creativity and technology, is rapidly becoming a major high value-added industry in Hong Kong, the chairman of the Working Group on Digital Entertainment, the Hon. Sin Chung-kai, said today (November 25).

Introducing the report of the working group, Mr Sin said: "To realise Hong Kong's potential in developing digital entertainment as a high value-added industry, we need to strengthen existing measures and implement new initiatives to facilitate and support the further development of the industry in the fields of digital effects, computer animation and games.

"The popular film 'My Life as Mcdull' won the Cristal for best feature award in the Grand Prix Annecy 2003. This is a recent example to illustrate that Hong Kong has the capability and talent to produce innovative and high quality digital entertainment content.

"The growing worldwide demand for digital entertainment products and the enormous opportunities afforded by the Mainland market particularly after the signing of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement have created a favourable environment for the local digital entertainment industry to further develop and thrive," Mr Sin said.

The working group has examined the situation in Hong Kong and elsewhere, and recommended a comprehensive package of measures to support the digital entertainment industry in the areas of infrastructure, human capital, protection of intellectual property rights, research and development, and marketing and promotion.

Mr Sin said he was glad that some of the recommended measures have already been implemented in a timely manner, such as the organisation of the first Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Excellence Awards in 2002 and the setting up of the first ever Hong Kong Pavilion at the Tokyo Game Show 2002 in Japan and the E3 2003 exhibition in the US.

"The setting up of the Digital Media Centre and the Hong Kong Wireless Development Centre at the Cyberport in the next few months will facilitate the creation of digital entertainment content and testing of relevant applications. The facilities will also help reduce the initial investment and operating costs of SMEs to enter this field.

"Furthermore, I am encouraged to know that the Innovation and Technology Fund has so far received 18 applications seeking funding support of over $80 million for conducting research and development under the solicitation theme Media Technologies for Digital Entertainment, which was introduced in September this year", Mr Sin added

The Deputy Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology (Communications and Technology), Mrs Betty Fung, said the Government was committed to creating a favourable environment for the further development of the digital entertainment industry.

"With its excellent telecommunications infrastructure and creative personnel, Hong Kong possesses all the necessary ingredients in the development of digital entertainment," Mrs Fung said.

"We will continue to work closely with industry and academia in implementing the working group's recommendations and in fostering the prosperous development of the digital entertainment industry in Hong Kong."

The Working Group on Digital Entertainment was set up in March 2002 under the auspices of the Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee to advise on measures to drive the development of the digital entertainment industry in Hong Kong. It is comprised of Mr Sin, who is a member of the committee, and 16 others, including representatives of industry, academia and Government departments.

The full report of the working group can be downloaded from: www.info.gov.hk/citb/ctb/english/it/digital_report.htm.

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

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