Hong Kong Chief Executive: Encourage the development of Hong Kong-made films and promote Hong Kong film brands

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced his "Policy Address" for the new year on January 14. Speaking of the film field, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said that film is one of the main entertainments of Hong Kong citizens. The SAR government will consider reserving space in key cultural and entertainment development areas to develop cinemas and study how to coordinate with the development of cinemas in terms of land sales and planning.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced his "Policy Address" for the new year on January 14. Speaking of the film field, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said that film is one of the main entertainments of Hong Kong citizens. The SAR government will consider reserving space in key cultural and entertainment development areas to develop cinemas and study how to coordinate with the development of cinemas in terms of land sales and planning.

Leung Chun-ying pointed out that the SAR government will continue to promote the development of the film industry through four strategies, including encouraging an increase in the production of Hong Kong films; cultivating production talents; encouraging students and young people to watch films and expand their audience; and promoting and promoting the "Hong Kong Film" brand in the mainland, Taiwan and overseas markets, supporting Hong Kong films to participate in international film festivals, and promoting Hong Kong's development into Asia's film financing platform. The Hong Kong government will inject capital into the "Film Development Fund" to support these strategies.

Hong Kong veteran filmmaker Hong Zuxing said in an exclusive interview with reporters that the government has proposed to consider reserving space to develop movie theaters, which is "good news" for all film practitioners.

Leung Chun-ying said in his policy address that movies are one of the main entertainments of citizens. The government will consider reserving space for the development of cinemas in key cultural and entertainment development areas, and study how to coordinate with the development of cinemas in terms of land sales and planning.

In addition, Leung Chun-ying said that the SAR government will continue to promote the development of the film industry through four strategies, including encouraging an increase in the production of films produced in Hong Kong; cultivating production talents; encouraging students and young people to watch films and expand their audiences; and Promote and promote the "Hong Kong Film" brand in the mainland, Taiwan and overseas markets, support Hong Kong films to participate in international film festivals, and promote Hong Kong's development into Asia's film financing platform. The government will also inject capital into the "Film Development Fund" to support the above strategy.

Hong Zuxing is currently the chairman of the Hong Kong Film Producers Association and has served as the chairman of the jury of five Hong Kong Film Awards. He said that there are not enough cinemas in Hong Kong. Due to the high land and the inability to afford high rents, many Hong Kong cinemas have closed down in recent years and have been replaced by supermarkets and shopping malls.

Hong Zuxing said that movies are part of the cultural industry and cinemas should be popularized to convey positive energy to society. "Today's cinemas can be diversified and are equipped with facilities such as cafes and children's amusement parks. If policies are coordinated, movie theaters may reverse the situation of not making ends meet and benefit the development of the film industry."

Regarding "encouraging an increase in the production of Hong Kong-produced films," Hong Zuxing said frankly that now Hong Kong films can only make money and recover costs by targeting the mainland market and making co-productions.

"The Hong Kong market cannot afford a film. In the past, a blockbuster film could be made for a few million Hong Kong dollars, but now the production fee often costs 10 million, which places high requirements on the quality of the film." Hong Zuxing said,"And if you want to have a guaranteed box office, you have to hire famous stars. Pay is also a problem, so fewer people are filming Hong Kong-made films."

Hong Zuxing introduced that there are currently only 10 to 15 films produced in Hong Kong every year, while the mainland produces 400 to 500 films annually. "The box office of mainland movies in China in 2014 was 29.6 billion yuan (RMB, the same below). Compared with the total box office revenue of 21.7 billion yuan in 2013, the overall growth was as high as 36%, and the market prospects are good. Moreover, many of them are large-scale productions in the mainland, and the cost of co-productions is around 30 million yuan to 80 million yuan, or even hundreds of millions of yuan."

He believes that Hong Kong's production talents still have their own advantages, which are reflected in their work attitude, professional attitude and accumulated experience."After all, Hong Kong films developed early and had a golden period." However, there are also many professionally trained graduates from film schools in the mainland. This is also a "big impact" for Hong Kong producers.

When talking about "promoting and promoting Hong Kong film brands", Hong Zuxing said that Hong Kong has always done a good job in promoting films."Hong Kong has previously held film development weeks in Taiwan, the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia, and even co-productions are Hong Kong's film company is responsible for promoting and has put a lot of effort into it. Only with publicity can the box office be good."

Hong Zuxing said that the international distribution network, professional celebrity packaging, and skilled market sales all allow Hong Kong films to occupy an important position overseas.

(Yien.com compiled and released it based on multiple media reports)