Five Hong Kong Teams Selected for 'The Great Wall Animated' Short Program Launch

"The Great Wall Animated" - Animation Short Programme for Great Wall of China kicks off

​The kick-off ceremony of "The Great Wall Animated"-Animation Short Programme for the Great Wall of China (GWA), organised by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Great Wall Cultural Creativity, was held at the Jinshanling Great Wall, Hebei today (November 15) to announce the five Hong Kong teams selected for the programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Miss Drew Lai, said CCIDA is honoured to bring forth this significant collaboration project which will present five animations next year when the National 15th Five Year Plan unfolds. The animations will, all have the theme of the Great Wall of China, a symbol of national spirit, and deeply integrating Hong Kong's creativity and technology. She believes that the five animations will drive the innovative presentation and international promotion of the magnificent Chinese culture.

The GWA is the first Hong Kong animation programme licensed by the Great Wall Cultural Creativity. The five Hong Kong teams selected will receive funding and professional guidance to produce, with the aid of artificial intelligence, five original animation shorts with the theme of the Great Wall of China while portraying Hong Kong characteristics and stories, with a view to promoting Chinese culture. The animations will be broadcast on suitable channels in the country and overseas in the second half of next year.

The Great Wall Cultural Creativity is the official intellectual property brand to promote the cultural charm of the Great Wall of China to the world. CCIDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Changcheng Cultural and Creative (Beijing) Culture Co Ltd. last year to foster collaboration between Hong Kong's cultural and creative industries and the Great Wall Cultural Creativity, and encourage Hong Kong designers to create more cultural and creative products that feature the Great Wall culture with Hong Kong characteristics.

For more information on the GWA, please visit: www.gwa.com.hk.

"The Great Wall Animated" - Animation Short Programme for Great Wall of China kicks off Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"The Great Wall Animated" - Animation Short Programme for Great Wall of China kicks off Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 8) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 31-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (December 7). About 13 900 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $62,000 and a duty potential of about $46,000, were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases