Hong Kong Comics Shine at Comic Fiesta 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Promoting Creative Talent and Cultural Exchange.

HKETO Jakarta promotes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in Malaysia

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) is supporting local comic companies under the Hong Kong Comics Development and Promotion Support Programme to take part in Comic Fiesta 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to promote Hong Kong's creative talent and the latest Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development.

Speaking at the opening ceremony for the Hong Kong Pavilion today (December 21), the Director-General of the HKETO Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, said that the Programme has recruited a total of 47 local comic companies since its inception in 2021. It provides funding and professional mentoring to these companies and their artists to support the creation, publication and promotion of original comic work.

"Comic Fiesta is one of the largest comic exhibitions in Malaysia. Comic companies under the Programme have attended this event for three consecutive years. Some Hong Kong comic products have even been identified by the local trade in Malaysia for publication in the Malay language, manifesting the global influence of Hong Kong's creative industries."

Miss Cheng added that the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development promulgated last month has introduced a series of relevant measures, such as supporting the industry in exploring international markets and assisting local arts practitioners to establish overseas networks for promoting and exporting their distinguished artwork. The HKETO Jakarta will continue to step up efforts on arts and cultural promotion, with a view to consolidating Hong Kong's status as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Also attending the opening ceremony were the Director of Malaysia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Hoh Jee Eng, and industry leaders from both places.

Comic Fiesta 2024 is attended by 17 Hong Kong comic companies under the third edition of the Programme. The two-day exhibition will conclude tomorrow (December 22).

HKETO Jakarta promotes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in Malaysia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Jakarta promotes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in Malaysia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Jakarta promotes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in Malaysia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Jakarta promotes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in Malaysia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business

Hong Kong Customs mounted a territory-wide enforcement operation codenamed "Magpie" between December 9 and yesterday (December 20) to combat illegal activities involving party room operators providing infringing karaoke songs to customers in the course of business.

Through intelligence analysis and with the assistance of copyright owners, Customs earlier identified a number of party rooms suspected of possessing and providing infringing karaoke songs to customers in the course of business. Customs officers then took enforcement action and raided 15 party rooms in various districts, including Tuen Mun, Kwai Chung, Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay. A total of 16 sets of karaoke devices used for playing suspected infringing songs, one set of game console with suspected pirated electronic games, and a batch of audio and video equipment were seized. The total estimated market value is approximately $400,000. Three men aged between 31 and 40, were arrested for being suspected of contravening the Copyright Ordinance. They were all persons-in-charge of the party rooms. The investigation is ongoing and further arrest may be made.

Customs reminds business operators to comply with the Copyright Ordinance and to make enquiries to copyright owners on matters relating to the use of musical visual recordings in the course of business.

Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of infringing activities to safeguard the rights of copyright owners.

Under the Ordinance, any person, who without the licence of the copyright owner of a copyright work, possesses infringing copies of a copyright work for the purpose of, or in the course of, any trade or business with the view to it being used by any person commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.

Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases