Creative Industries

Creative industries in Hong Kong have immense development potential. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Government) recognises that creative industries are not only Hong Kong’s new economic drivers but also popular professions among young people. Creativity makes Hong Kong a more attractive international city. In 2022, our creative industries, powered by around 29 890 establishments and around 130 770 practitioners, had a combined added value of around $62.4 billion, contributing to around 2.3% of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product.

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau has policy responsibilities over eight creative sectors: advertising, architecture, design, digital entertainment, film, music, printing and publishing, and television.

In promoting the development of our creative industries, the Government adopts an industry-led approach by providing funding support to worthwhile projects initiated and organised by the trade via two dedicated Government funding schemes: the Film Development Fund (FDF) for the film sector and the CreateSmart Initiative (CSI) for the seven non-film sectors.

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (formerly known as Create Hong Kong) was set up in 2009 as a dedicated agency to lead, champion and drive the development of our creative industries. It also serves as the secretariat of the CSI and the FDF.

The Film Promotion and Facilitation Section of Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency facilitates filming of local and overseas film and television productions in Hong Kong, advising and assisting production crews on matters such as location scouting, obtaining permission for location filming and lane closure, as well as performs statutory functions of issuing licences and permits for use of special effects materials (e.g. pyrotechnics and inflammable materials) in production of films, television and other entertainment programmes.

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency supports the development of the film sector mainly through the FDF which was set up in 1999. Since 2005, together with about $1.4 billion injection in 2024, the Government has injected around $2.9 billion in total into the FDF to support the local film industry along four strategic directions:

a) nurturing talent;

b) enhancing local production;

c) expanding markets; and

d) building audience.

Over the years, the FDF has funded over 100 film productions, grooming more than 100 new directors and new producers through various schemes. The productions have won more than 180 local and overseas awards.

The Flim Development Council advises the Government on the use of the FDF, as well as the policies and strategies for the promotion and development of the film industry.

Learn more about the FDF:

Film Production Financing Scheme, Scriptwriting Incubation Programme , and other film-related projects

First Feature Film Initiative

Five major measures to re-energise Hong Kong's film industry

Culture and Creative Industries Development Agency supports the development of the seven non-film creative sectors through the CSI which was set up in 2009, together with a $2.9 billion funding injection in 2024, the Government has injected a total of $6.4 billion into the CSI to date to support projects initiated and organised by the trade to meet the four strategic foci:

a) nurturing talents and facilitating startups;

b) exploring markets;

c) promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration; and

d) promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community.

Over the years, the CSI has funded over 750 projects covering a large variety of projects, ranging from incubation programmes and graduate support schemes, locally held business matching and promotional events, to participation in architectural exhibitions, game shows, book fairs, fashion weeks, advertising competitions, etc. in Greater China and overseas.

The CSI is open for application throughout the year.

The GBA Development and the B&R Initiative present new opportunities for Hong Kong’s creative industries, particularly film, design, and digital entertainment.

Through the CSI and the FDF, we fund various creative sectors to organise exhibitions, exchange activities, etc. in other GBA cities and B&R countries. We also co-ordinate the creative industries to visit these regions or organise roving exhibitions to promote cross-boundary exchanges and collaboration among creative industries.

Design thinking is commonly considered as a human-centred approach to innovation. Its core principles are problem identification, co-designing the solutions with the client, and employing empathy throughout the journey. It is our policy objective to promote design thinking across different age groups and sectors as a problem-solving tool, as well as within the Government to enhance efficiency, better meet the needs of the public, and realise the “people-oriented” service culture.

With the facilitation of the Efficiency Office, design thinking has been increasingly adopted in public services and Government initiatives in recent years. We also sponsor community design thinking projects through the CSI.

16 October 2024