FILMART 2026 Kicks Off with Focus on AI and Global Collaborations

Speech by SCST at Hong Kong Night @ FILMART 2026

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Hong Kong Night @ FILMART (Hong Kong International Film & TV Market) 2026 today (March 17):

Wilfred (Chairman of the Film Development Council, Dr Wilfred Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. A very warm welcome to all of you, joining us from near and far, at the Hong Kong Night @ FILMART 2026.

FILMART, which opens today and marks its 30th anniversary this year, is Asia's largest film and entertainment content marketplace. It is also one of the world's premier film industry events, proudly presented by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, a valued partner of the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government in promoting Hong Kong films and fostering international collaborations.

FILMART offers a vital platform for entertainment and film industry professionals from across the globe to showcase their content and explore opportunities for cross media, cross-sector collaboration and partnerships. Since 2023, my bureau - the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau - has hosted Hong Kong Night, a gathering designed to bring together our partners and collaborators, and to share highlights of this year's FILMART before your busy schedule begins.

As in previous years, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under my bureau, together with the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), are organising several events at FILMART 2026. A key highlight is the debut of "AI Academy, AI Hub", a programme that brings together specialists and pioneering users to share their professional knowledge and practical applications of AI engines and tools in the creation and production of high-quality film and animated content. While AI's full potential is yet to be realised, it is undoubtedly the most transformative development in decades - reshaping content, production models and business strategies, and redefining the core competitiveness of the film industry. We are ready to embrace and seize the new opportunities this brings.

Another major highlight is "Producers Connect", launched last year to great success. This initiative brings together local and international film professionals to explore co-production and business opportunities, while also nurturing emerging local producers. The Government has long recognised that talent development is fundamental to the sustainable growth of the film industry. To that end, CCIDA and the FDC have been working tirelessly. We sponsor filmmakers to attend overseas film festivals and subsidise various training programmes to support young directors and scriptwriters.

Enhancing international collaboration with industry partners beyond Hong Kong remains a core policy objective, especially as Hong Kong is uniquely positioned as the centre of East-meets-West cultural exchanges. FILMART is a prime example of this role. In addition, CCIDA leads industry delegations to international film festivals and promotes coproductions with Asian filmmakers.

While you are in Hong Kong, I encourage you to step out and explore our city's vibrant landscape. Over the past year, we have launched two film-related exhibitions in local settings. One is the "Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey" Exhibition in Kowloon Walled City Park, recreating the set of the acclaimed Hong Kong film, "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In". The other is "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, reimagining a 1980s police station often featured in classic Hong Kong crime films. Both have become major attractions for tourists and film lovers alike. I highly encourage you to join the tour and discover many of our city's fascinating sites.

I would like to thank Dr Wong, the Chairman of the FDC, and all FDC members for their invaluable contributions and steadfast support for the development of Hong Kong's film industry. I wish you all a very pleasant evening and a rewarding and productive FILMART in the days ahead. Thank you.

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, speaks at the Hong Kong Night @ FILMART 2026 today (March 17). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Online auction of vehicle registration marks to be held from July 23 to 27

The Transport Department (TD) today (July 8) said that the next online auction of vehicle registration marks (VRMs) will be held from noon on July 23 (Thursday) to noon on July 27 (Monday) through the auction platform E-Auction (e-auction.td.gov.hk). Interested bidders can participate in the online auction only after they have successfully registered as E-Auction users.

A spokesman for the TD said, "A total of 220 Ordinary VRMs will be available at this online public auction. The list of VRMs (see Annex) has been uploaded to the E-Auction website. Applicants who have paid a $1,000 deposit to reserve an Ordinary VRM for auction should also register as an E-Auction user in advance in order to participate in the online bidding, including placing the first bid at the opening price of $1,000. Otherwise, the VRMs reserved by them may be bid on by other interested bidders at or above the opening price. Auctions for VRMs with 'HK' or 'XX' as a prefix, special VRMs and personalised VRMs will continue to be carried out through physical auctions by bidding paddles and their announcement arrangements remain unchanged."

Members of the public participating in the online bidding should take note of the following important points:

(1) Bidders should register in advance as an E-Auction user by "iAM Smart+" equipped with the digital signing function; or by using a valid digital certificate and an email address upon completion of identity verification. Registered "iAM Smart" users should provide their Hong Kong identity card number, while non-Hong Kong residents who are not "iAM Smart" users should provide the number of their passport or other identification documents when registering as E-Auction users.

(2) Bidders are required to provide a digital signature to confirm the submission and amount of the bid by using "iAM Smart+" or a valid digital certificate at the time of the first bid of each online bidding session (including setting automatic bids before the auction begins) to comply with the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.

(3) If a bid is made in respect of a VRM within the last 10 minutes before the end of the auction, the auction end time for that particular VRM will be automatically extended by another 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 24 hours.

(4) Successful bidders must follow the instructions in the notification email issued by the TD to log in to the E-Auction within 48 hours from the issuance of email and complete the follow-up procedures, including:

• completing the Purchaser Information for the issuance of the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark (Memorandum of Sale); and
• making the auction payment online by credit card, Faster Payment System (FPS) or Payment by Phone Service (PPS). Cheque or cash payment is not accepted in the E-Auction.

(5) A VRM can only be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. Relevant information on the Certificate of Incorporation must be provided by the successful bidder in the Purchaser Information of the Memorandum of Sale if the VRM purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(6) Successful bidders will receive a notification email around seven working days after payment has been confirmed and can download the Memorandum of Sale from the E-Auction. The purchaser must apply for the VRM to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser within 12 months from the date of issue of the Memorandum of Sale. If the purchaser fails to do so within the 12-month period, in accordance with the statutory provision, the allocation of the VRM will be cancelled and a new allocation will be arranged by the TD without prior notice to the purchaser.

The TD has informed all applicants who have reserved Ordinary VRMs for this round of auction of the E-Auction arrangements in detail by post. Members of the public may refer to the E-Auction website or watch the tutorial videos for more information. Please call the E-Auction hotline (3583 3980) or email (e-auction-enquiry@td.gov.hk) for enquiries.

Source: AI-found images