Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 Kicks Off with Celebrations for FILMART's 30th and Film Festival's 50th Anniversaries

Speech by CS at Kick-off Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Kick-off Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 today (March 17):

(Deputy Director of the China Film Administration and Director of the China Film Archive, Mr Qin Zhengui), (Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the National Radio and Television Administration and Deputy Director General of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs, Mr Yang Yong), Peter (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Entertainment Industry Advisory Committee, Dr Peter Lam), Fred (Chairman of the HKTDC, Professor Frederick Ma), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. I am delighted to join you today for the kick-off ceremony of this year's Entertainment Expo Hong Kong, the 22nd edition of this vibrant event.

As Peter noted, this year's Entertainment Expo is particularly special. We are celebrating major milestones of two of its founding events - the 30th anniversary of FILMART, and the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong International Film Festival. These are not just birthdays; they are testaments to the lasting power and global appeal of Hong Kong's creative industries.

The continued success of these two flagship events, together with the strong line-up of our other six Entertainment Expo gatherings, reflects the creativity, quality and international recognition that Hong Kong's entertainment sector has achieved over the years.

In this regard, FILMART, opening today, remains Asia's leading marketplace. This year, it features over 790 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions.

We are also delighted to see the return of Producers Connect, following its successful launch last year. It continues to focus on what matters most - international collaborations, business matching, and meaningful exchanges with industry leaders through workshops and fireside chats.

Turning to the Hong Kong International Film Festival, opening on April 1, audiences can look forward to 215 films from more than 70 countries and regions. There will also be masterclasses led by internationally renowned filmmakers.

To mark its golden jubilee, a special exhibition - "50 and Beyond: The Hong Kong International Film Festival Golden Jubilee Exhibition" - will feature recorded interviews with filmmakers sharing their Film Festival experiences, as well as rare photographs of celebrated directors and film stars who have appeared at the festival over the past half century.

And there is more. Just last Sunday, we had the 19th Asian Film Awards presentation ceremony. Next month, on April 19, the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards presentation ceremony will shine a spotlight on our local film talent.

This Friday, the Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) awards ceremony will showcase winning works from 31 shortlisted Hong Kong teams. The shortlisted teams received funding, professional training, and guidance in production and promotion; a fine example on how we cultivate more talent across various sectors.

Then there's the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum, which received more than 500 submissions from 47 countries and regions this year. As always, the Forum connects filmmakers with global partners to explore investment and co-production opportunities.

Speaking of which, EntertainmentPulse and the Digital Entertainment Summit will bring together international industry leaders and experts, and discuss opportunities in animation, co-production collaborations, intellectual property, production technologies, short-form films and more.

Behind every event of the Entertainment Expo, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government stands firm in its support. Leading this effort is our Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. We are committed to championing the growth of Hong Kong's creative economy.

Beyond the Expo, I encourage you to explore what our city has to offer as a rising East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Be sure to visit two unique cinematic exhibitions - "Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey" - in Kowloon City, and "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey". These are not just displays of movie sets, they are windows into the passion, creativity, and dedication of Hong Kong's filmmaking community.

I am grateful to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for their passion and creativity in putting together another outstanding Entertainment Expo Hong Kong.

My thanks also go to the China Film Administration and the National Radio and Television Administration for their unwavering support for Entertainment Expo over the years.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you another rewarding and inspiring Entertainment Expo. And the best of business and entertainment in the coming year. Thank you.

Source: AI-found images

Speech by CS at Kick-off Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at Kick-off Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at Kick-off Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at Kick-off Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at Kick-off Ceremony of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Hospital Authority reviews medical fee waiver cases and safeguards limited public healthcare resources

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson stated today (March 17) that the HA is reviewing approved medical fee waiver cases in accordance with the established mechanism to ensure that limited public resources are being properly utilised.

Since the implementation of the public healthcare fees and charges reform on January 1 this year, up to March 13, the HA has approved a total of nearly 200 000 medical fee waiver applications, comprising 107 348 cases where waiver certificates have been issued following completed assessments, and 92 491 conditional waiver cases. Applicants granted conditional waivers are required to submit relevant supporting documents within three months for review in order to demonstrate genuine financial hardship. To date, approximately 24 000 conditional waiver cases have completed the document submission process. During the review process, the HA has identified over 640 applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria, the majority of which involve income or assets exceeding the prescribed limits.

The HA spokesperson said, "One case involved a three-person household which, at the time of application, reported having no income and assets of only $430,000, and was subsequently granted a conditional full fee waiver. Upon review of the submitted supporting documents, it was confirmed that certain assets had not been declared, and the household's actual assets exceeded $860,000, surpassing the applicable asset limit of $682,000 for that case. The HA has revoked the conditional waiver granted to the patient and has required the applicant to settle all applicable medical fees."

The spokesperson also cited another case. "The case involved a married couple, where the patient was a recipient of the Old Age Living Allowance below the age of 75, and the spouse was in full-time employment. Under the simplified application procedures for the Old Age Living Allowance introduced by the reform, the spouse was not required to submit any proof of income. However, upon review, the assessment team confirmed that the household possessed assets exceeding $630,000, which surpassed the asset limit of $562,000 under the medical fee waiver scheme, rendering the application ineligible for a waiver."

The HA emphasised that following the public healthcare fees and charges reform, the government subsidy rate remains around 95 per cent. Under the principle of "copayment by those who can afford and copayment by those with mild conditions", the medical fee copayment rate is around 5 per cent. The medical fee waiver mechanism was established to channel additional public resources to further assist patients with genuine financial difficulties, enabling those who are poor to be exempted from payment. As such, the HA must carefully scrutinise every application and require applicants to provide all relevant financial supporting documents, including accessible insurance savings or Hong Kong Jockey Club betting account records, to ensure a fair and impartial review process and to direct appropriate assistance to patients with genuine needs.

The spokesperson added that the HA has always been diligent in safeguarding limited public healthcare resources, carefully reviewing every medical fee waiver application, and conducting sample checks on approved cases to ensure that fee waivers are directed to patients with genuine needs. Should any fraudulent element be identified during the review process, the HA will handle the matter seriously, require the applicant to settle all applicable medical fees, and refer the case to law enforcement authorities for follow-up.

Since the implementation of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, the HA has been adopting various measures to strengthen the protection of "poor, acute, serious and critical patients", ensuring that no patient in need is denied necessary medical services due to financial reasons. One key measure is the optimisation of the medical fee waiver mechanism. After an assessment confirms that a patient faces financial hardship (or other non-financial circumstances), the patient may be granted a medical fee waiver of up to 18 months, significantly alleviating their financial burden and ensuring that no patient falls into poverty due to illness.

Source: AI-found images