The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, today (July 19) met two Hong Kong cartoonists, Lee Chi-ching and KAI, to congratulate them on their winning the top prize and one of the three Encouragement Awards respectively at the first International Manga Award organised by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Manga Award is a leading award of the cartoon sector in the region, with competitors coming from 26 countries or regions.
"Their success demonstrates that Hong Kong cartoonists have attained international standards and won recognition from the global community. I hope the two winners and other local cartoonists will continue to produce outstanding works to help bolster our comics and animation industry," Mr Ma said.
Mr Ma also met the publishers of the winners' comic books and the representatives of the Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation to exchange views on how to further drive the development of creative industry including comics and animation in Hong Kong. The meeting agreed to step up collaboration between government and the industry to promote public awareness of the achievement of the local talents and encourage more talented people to join the creative industry and the business sector to make investment in the industry.
Mr Ma said the Government fully supported the development of the local creative industry and would continue to drive for the provision of a conducive environment for the sector to flourish. The useful work carried out by the Productivity Council and the setting up of the Digital Entertainment Industry Support Centre in the Cyberport to render support to the digital entertainment sector were very important.
Mr Ma pledged that the Government, together with these agencies, would continue to give support to the industry in various aspects including market development and promotion, training, industry cross-fertilisation, and enhancement of venture capitals' understanding about investment opportunities in the local creative industry.
Lee Chi-ching won the International Manga Award (best work) for his work "Sun Zi's Tactics" while KAI received a "Shorei" Award for her work "1520". The competition attracted 146 entries from 26 countries and regions.
Thursday, July 19, 2007