Hong Kong Film Council Welcomes New Blueprint for Arts and Culture Development

FDC Chairman welcomes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development that promotes development of Hong Kong's arts, culture and creative industries

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Film Development Council:

The Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), Dr Wilfred Wong, welcomed the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development issued yesterday (November 26), which comprehensively supports the development of Hong Kong's arts, culture and creative industries and sets a clear direction for Hong Kong's cultural policy in the future.

Dr Wong said, "The four strategic directions of the Blueprint are closely related to the development of the film industry. Each strategic direction has clear measures for film development, especially in promoting profound traditional Chinese culture and promoting international cultural exchanges. As an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, Hong Kong can make good use of films to display unique connotations and promote exchanges between different cultures." The Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme under the Film Development Fund (FDF) helps potential Hong Kong filmmakers broaden their cultural horizons and bring a new look to Hong Kong films. In addition, he also mentioned that through the funding support from the FDF, the film industry could produce films that creatively promote profound traditional Chinese culture and showcase its rich traditions to audiences.

Dr Wong said that the establishment of an international platform and enhancing the ecosystem for the arts, culture and creative industries mentioned in the Blueprint will provide more opportunities for Hong Kong filmmakers and encourage them to explore and realise more creative and diversified works. He said, "With the support and funding from the Government, we will be able to promote the development of the film industry and make Hong Kong films more influential on the international stage."

Last but not least, Dr Wong emphasised that the FDC will continue to support the creation of local films and encourage the industry to co-operate with international teams to increase the market savvyof Hong Kong films.

Two giant pandas gifted by Central Government to meet and greet public on December 8

​The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and Ocean Park will hold on December 7 a greeting ceremony for the two giant pandas gifted by the Central Government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The two giant pandas will meet and greet the public on the following day (December 8) at Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures in Ocean Park.

Since the arrival of the two giant pandas on September 26, a craze for giant pandas has sparked across the city, and the public is eagerly looking forward to meeting them. Having completed quarantine on October 25, the two pandas are currently acclimatising to their new living environment and are in good condition. Ocean Park is co-ordinating small-scale visits to the two pandas for different parties, including sponsors and sponsoring organisations, other partnering organisations, representatives from the education sector, students, and underprivileged families. These visits will also help the giant pandas adjust to the presence of visitors in their new home.

The Giant Panda Greeting Ceremony will be held on the afternoon of December 7 at Ocean Park. The results of the Giant Panda Naming Competition and the Giant Panda Painting Competition organised by the CSTB and co-organised by Ocean Park earlier on will be announced during the ceremony.

To create a joyful atmosphere for welcoming the giant pandas, the CSTB, jointly with the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Ocean Park, collaborates with various sectors to organise a series of promotional activities themed "Come and Enjoy a Pandastic Hong Kong". The new Hong Kong giant panda family will serve as Hong Kong's tourism ambassadors in promoting local tourism experiences in Hong Kong, attracting visitors from all over the world to Hong Kong and driving tourism development. The Government will continue to seize the opportunity brought by the arrival of the giant pandas and connect different sectors of society to actively plan and launch more promotional activities related to the giant pandas, thereby generating business opportunities for different sectors and boosting the economy.