12 December 2016

With joint effort, the School of Humanities and Social Science and the Hong Kong Association of Cultural Industries successfully organised the Symposium on Developing the Cultural and Creative Industries in Hong Kong and the Greater China Region on 12 December 2016 at Fung Yiu King Hall, Hang Seng Management College (HSMC).

The opening of the Symposium was officiated by President Simon S M HO and Dr Peter LAM Kin Ngok, GBS, President of Hong Kong Association of Cultural Industries. This symposium aimed to address the development trends of cultural and creative industries (CCI), and to provide a platform for participants to discuss the way forward of CCI through collaboration between stakeholders. The symposium speakers included Professor Masayuki SASAKI from Japan, Dr Emile C J SHENG from Taiwan, Professor XIONG Chengyu from Beijing, and Dr Darwin CHEN from Hong Kong. The key issues discussed included CCI development in Japan, Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong.

During the symposium, Professor Desmond HUI, Department of Social Science, HSMC, introduced the White Paper on Developing the Cultural and Creative Industries in Hong Kong and the Greater China Region. The White Paper is a research study commissioned by Hong Kong Association of Cultural Industries (HKACI) and undertaken by School of Humanities and Social Science, HSMC to propose policy recommendations to promote the development of CCI.

President Simon HO said the collaboration with the HKACI in research and promotion of the CCI sectors represented a long-term and sustainable model of designing and “co-curating” the best possible programme on Cultural and Creative Industries that fulfills both academic and professional/industry aims.

Dr Peter LAM Kin Ngok, GBS said that the Hong Kong SAR Government should grasp the opportunity brought by the Mainland China and regional cultural and creative economy to re-examine the focus, scope, objectives and policy measures of CCI in order to promote sustainable development of the sector which plays a positive role in the diversified economic, social and cultural development.

White Paper on Developing the Cultural and Creative Industries in Hong Kong and the Greater China Region

In February 2016, the Hong Kong Association of Cultural Industries commissioned the School of Humanities and Social Science at Hang Seng Management College to undertake a research study on CCI in Hong Kong: on one hand to examine and review the performance of the sector; on the other hand to identify the development opportunities for the industries within the overall trends of the Greater China Region.  The principle investigator of the research team is Professor Desmond HUI.

The White Paper the Hong Kong SAR Government to set CCI policy measures and roadmap with vision as follows:

1. To proactively set policy research agenda and launch sustainable studies for CCI such as “Transformation of CCI Industry Structure and Chain”, “Regional Economic Integration and Division of Labour”, “The Form of Business and Trade in Cultural Goods and Services”, “The Social and Cultural Functions of CCI”, “Creativity Index” or “CCI Policy Evaluation Framework” etc.

2. Government should regard digitalization and application of technology as the core components and capacities of CCI and to invest substantially with support for cultural and creative enterprises to apply and use digitalization and technology widely, in order to promote innovation and creative activities.

3. To review and evaluate the manpower needs and education of CCI: to initiate study and discussion on manpower needs, knowledge base and core competencies, assessment of aptitude, curriculum design and educational path; and to come up with recommendations for relevant stakeholders in education and other sectors in society.

4. To set up a Culture Bureau for the overall coordination of both cultural services and CCI so that policies for culture and CCI are more effectively conceived and implemented under one bureau for the comprehensive and long-term planning of CCI from the economic, social and cultural perspectives.

5. To set up a committee or task group consisting of and led by members from different sectors of society for the comprehensive planning and strategizing of CCI policies and measures.

6. To set up a CCI Development Fund for the support of research and development, testing and piloting of CCI projects and related activities.

The analyses and recommendations from the White Paper are references to the public and aim to assist policy planners and makers to design the future policies and development strategies of CCI in Hong Kong.