Cheering on Hong Kong's film industry

The latest Oscar season has just come to an end. Regina and I are great fans of movies. Our family have been paying close attention to news about this year's Oscars, not least because The Grandmaster, by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design.

I believe that Director Wong's films, such as Days of Being Wild and In the Mood for Love, are still fresh in our minds. Although The Grandmaster did not win any Oscars in the end amid keen competition from strong contestants, its success in getting nominations at such an important international movie event is an affirmation of the standard of Hong Kong movies and a shot in the arm for makers of Chinese-language films who wish to tap into the global market.

I am grateful to previous generations of local filmmakers for their selfless dedication and perseverance, which has paved the way for the achievements of the local film industry today. Speaking of the future, Director Wong said that they would continue what they had been doing, and look forward to working together with other practitioners in the Chinese-language film industry. The Government will continue to support the development of the local film industry through various measures. I hope that you will go to the cinema more often to see local productions and cheer on Hong Kong's film industry.

March 5, 2014