Hong Kong Showcases Comic Talent at Ani-Com & Games 2025 with International Conference and Pavilion Events.

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency supports industry in participating in Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong and hosting International Comic Artist Conference

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau supported the industry in organising the "HK Comics Support Programme" (HKCSP) pavilion at Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong 2025 (ACGHK) and hosting the 20th International Comic Artist Conference (the conference). Through a series of annual comic events, the initiatives showcased the creative talent and outstanding works of Hong Kong comic artists. These efforts not only presented local comic artists' excellent creations to both international and local audiences, but also fostered exchange and collaboration between the Hong Kong comic industry and its international counterparts.

The HKCSP pavilion was successfully held from July 25 to 29, attracting an enthusiastic response with approximately 60 000 visitors recorded over the five-day exhibition period. Meanwhile, the conference, themed "The New Global Wave of Comics: Resonating with the New Generation" took place from July 24 to 25, bringing together representatives from 11 countries or regions to engage in in-depth discussions on topics including creativity, market trends, industry development, and publishing strategies.

Acting Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Mrs Lowell Cho, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been continuously nurturing local comic artists and supporting the sustainable growth of Hong Kong comic enterprises through the "CreateSmart Initiative" (CSI) funding, with a view to consolidating Hong Kong's position as a hub for the creative industry in Asia and promoting Hong Kong comics on the global radar.

The fourth edition of HKCSP is one of the flagship projects under the CSI. It aims to discover and nurture emerging local comic talents while promoting the development of original comics in Hong Kong. This year, 16 selected local enterprises showcased their newly published original comic works with the support of the CSI at the HKCSP pavilion. The lead artists were also present to interact and engage with readers on-site.

Since the launch of HKCSP, including the past three editions, the programme has successfully published 63 original comic works and secured over 30 licensing agreements for foreign-language editions, effectively expanding into overseas markets. Several emerging comic artists who participated in the programme, including Chivas Leung (1st HKCSP), Man Tsang (1st HKCSP), Pen So (1st and 3rd HKCSP), and Bonnie Pang (2nd HKCSP), won prestigious international awards or garnered attention from international publishers through their creations under the programme. Their success in entering the global market underscored the international competitiveness of Hong Kong comics. Among the emerging comic artists, Pen So, with the Gold Award- winning work from 3rd HKCSP "Dali Libreria", won the Grand Publishing Award of the Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Awards 2025, and alongside Man Tsang and Kwong Chi Kit (1st and 2nd HKCSP), was invited to represent Hong Kong at the International Comic Artist Conference to share their creative insights.

Hong Kong returned as host of the International Comic Artist Conference, following its hosting of the 14th edition of the conference in 2013, signifying the importance and influence of the local comic industry on the international stage. The conference featured the "International Comics Exhibition" in the ACGHK, showcasing over 400 outstanding original works from 12 countries or regions. Visitors had the opportunity to appreciate a diverse range of classic and emerging comic works from around the world, thereby further promoting the exchange of the global comics culture.

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency supports industry in participating in Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong and hosting International Comic Artist Conference Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency supports industry in participating in Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong and hosting International Comic Artist Conference Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency supports industry in participating in Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong and hosting International Comic Artist Conference Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency supports industry in participating in Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong and hosting International Comic Artist Conference Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

New names for tropical cyclones in 2026

The Hong Kong Observatory said today (June 8) that nine new names, Koki, Gaeguri, Dim-sum, Hebi, Tomo, Tirou, Narae, Burapha and Hoaban, have been introduced to the list of tropical cyclone names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2026 to replace the old names of Kong-rey, Toraji, Man-yi, Usagi, Yagi, Ewiniar, Jebi, Krathon and Trami respectively.

The Hong Kong Observatory, Photo source: reference image

The new names were endorsed at the 58th session of the Typhoon Committee, which is under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the World Meteorological Organization.

The meanings of the nine new names and the contributing countries/regions are as follows:

Name

Meaning

Contributing country/region

1.Koki

The name of a large tree with a hard flesh that is suitable for daily use in Cambodia

Cambodia

2.Gaeguri

A frog

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

3.Dim-sum

A famous food in Hong Kong cuisine

Hong Kong, China

4.Hebi

Serpens; snake

Japan

5.Tomo

Puppis; stern

Japan

6.Tirou

A formal and respectful way of greeting in Chuukese culture

Micronesia

7.Narae

The wing of a bird or an insect

Republic of Korea

8.Burapha

East

Thailand

9.Hoaban

It is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, a typical flower of the Northwest mountains of Vietnam, it has a pleasant scent and blooms every spring

Vietnam

According to convention, the Typhoon Committee will consider retiring the name of a tropical cyclone which has caused serious casualties and economic losses. Typhoon Ewiniar hit the Philippines in late May 2024, causing six deaths and eight injuries. More than 150 000 people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP1.04 billion. In early September 2024, Super Typhoon Yagi left 21 deaths, 26 missing and 22 injuries in the Philippines during its passage. More than three million people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP2.6 billion. Super Typhoon Krathon brought torrential rain to the northern part of the Philippines in late September to early October 2024, resulting in five deaths, one missing and 12 injuries. Over 380 000 people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP1.5 billion. Typhoon Trami and Super Typhoon Kong-rey in late October 2024 caused a total of 159 deaths, 22 missing and 132 injuries in the Philippines. More than 9.6 million people were affected and economic losses exceeded PHP18.4 billion. Typhoon Toraji, Super Typhoon Usagi and Super Typhoon Man-yi hit the Philippines successively in mid-November 2024, causing a total of 14 deaths, two missing, 15 injuries with more than 4.3 million people affected. Economic losses exceeded PHP3.7 billion. Additionally, "Jebi" has been retired due to an inappropriate meaning in other languages.

The latest list of tropical cyclone names and their corresponding meanings are available on the Hong Kong Observatory webpage for Tropical Cyclone Names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea with effect from 2026.

Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases