FS visits Sham Shui Po District (with photos)

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, visited Sham Shui Po District this afternoon (June 13). Apart from meeting with members of the Sham Shui Po District Council (SSPDC), he also called on an organisation and a platform supporting development of the creative industries in Hong Kong.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the SSPDC, Mr Ambrose Cheung, and the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Damian Lee, Mr Chan first visited the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC) and exchanged views with artists there.

     Housed in a building converted from an old factory estate, the JCCAC supports the nurturing of local creative talent and promotion of arts and culture through providing arts studios as well as display and performing venues for artists. Around 140 artists and arts organisations of different art disciplines are currently based in the JCCAC.

     Later, Mr Chan visited  D2 Place in Lai Chi Kok. D2 Place was a project under the Scheme on Revitalisation of Industrial Buildings and was transformed from industrial buildings to commercial uses. The project supports local start-ups and entrepreneurs in developing their business through concessionary rental and support in their operations and marketing. Moreover, it also provides additional shared space for start-ups and creative work through the Space Sharing Scheme for Youth.

     Mr Chan said that he was very pleased to see different sectors of society collaborate to support the development of creative industries, so to provide diversified career development opportunities for young people. The Government is committed to supporting the development of the creative industries. Since 2009, the Government has injected a total of $1 billion into the CreateSmart Initiative (CSI).  In the 2018-19 financial year, the Government will inject another $1 billion into the CSI to strengthen support for the development of the creative industries, especially in nurturing youths and helping start-ups, and also to enable the Hong Kong Design Centre to implement initiatives to enhance public understanding of the value of creativity and design.

     Mr Chan then met with the members of the SSPDC to learn more about the latest developments of the district and to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.