A previously announced dedicated office for nurturing creative industries under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will come in the middle of this year, a senior official said Wednesday.

Delivering an annual budget speech, Financial Secretary John Tsang said the office will integrate existing government resources to effectively support the sector.

Tsang said he will earmark 300 million HK dollars (38.5 million U.S. dollars) for the development of local creative industries other than the film and design industries, which were currently supported through the Film Development Fund and the Design Smart Initiative, respectively.

Hong Kong has been trying to promote the development of creative industries in recent years, with Hong Kong design galleries at the airport and other places.

The creative industry-related establishments in Hong Kong, totaling some 32,000 nowadays, contributed over 60 billion HK dollars (7.7 billion U.S. dollars) annually to Hong Kong's gross domestic product, Tsang said.

Tsang said Hong Kong as a pluralistic international metropolis offered fertile ground for the growth of creative industries.

The HKSAR government will, amongst others, nurture more local talent and incorporate the elements of design and creativity into education.

Efforts will also be made to promote digital entertainment and expand markets for Hong Kong films in the Chinese mainland as well as Southeast Asia, he said.

Hong Kong's participation in the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai will be a particularly good opportunity to promote the updated Brand Hong Kong and demonstrate the quality of life and the characteristics of innovative city in the city, he added.

Tsang even invited a renowned local cartoonist to produce the comic "Tomorrow - Future for Today" to promote the HKSAR government budget for fiscal year 2009-2010.

"I have signaled (HKSAR) government's commitment to making use of local creative industries and to greater public participation," he said.

Source: Xinhua