Hong Kong Pavilion Shines at Bologna Children's Book Fair, Showcasing Development of Local Talent and Publications

CCIDA leads industry delegation to participate in Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy and sponsors set-up of Hong Kong Pavilion

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led an industry delegation to participate in the 63rd Bologna Children's Book Fair (BCBF) in Italy, and sponsored the industry's set-up of the Hong Kong Pavilion therein, which showcased more than 1 000 pieces of publications and printed works from over 60 Hong Kong publishers and printers. CCIDA also sponsored emerging picture book illustrators and a comic artist to attend the Fair and exhibit their creations there. The Hong Kong Pavilion attracted around 30 000 visitorsduring its four-day fair period (April 13 to 16, Bologna time).

Speaking at the launch cocktail reception of the Hong Kong Pavilion on April 13 (Bologna time), Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Miss Yvonne Ip said that CCIDA has been nurturing Hong Kong illustrators and comic artists through various projects over the years, providing opportunities for them to expand their international visibility and enhance their professional development, thereby bringing Hong Kong picture books and comics onto the global stage. Many of these artists have attained international awards and secured contracts from overseas publishers, demonstrating the strength and appeal of Hong Hong's cultural and creative artists.

The Hong Kong Pavilion was co-organised by the Hong Kong Publishing Federation and the Hong Kong Printers Association. Nine artists participated in the Pavilion's Hong Kong Illustration Zone. The artists come from two CCIDA-sponsored initiatives (namely, the Go! Illustrators - Hong Kong Picture Book Illustrators at International Book Fairs Promotion Scheme and the Hong Kong Comics Support Programme). One of the artists received a Special Mention Award in the Young Adult Comics category at the BolognaRagazzi Awards, and one was longlisted at the Silent Book Contest this year.

With funding support from CCIDA, these nine artists attended and conducted business meetings with overseas publishers at the BCBF. They also hosted workshops in the Hong Kong Pavilion and had exchanges with publishers, editors and illustrators from all over the world, broadening their international perspectives and helping them explore business opportunities.

In addition, a launch ceremony in Europe of eight new picture books created by illustrators of the last edition of the Go! Illustrators and published under CCIDA's sponorship was also held at the Hong Kong Pavilion.

For more information on the Hong Kong Pavilion at the BCBF, please visit www.bookfairhkpavilion.com.

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led an industry delegation to participate in the 63rd Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy, and sponsored the industry’s set-up of the Hong Kong Pavilion therein, which showcased more than 1 000 pieces of publications and printed works from over 60 Hong Kong publishers and printers from April 13 to 16 (Bologna time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led an industry delegation to participate in the 63rd Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy, and sponsored the industry's set-up of the Hong Kong Pavilion therein, which showcased more than 1 000 pieces of publications and printed works from over 60 Hong Kong publishers and printers from April 13 to 16 (Bologna time). CCIDA also sponsored emerging picture book illustrators and a comic artist to attend the Fair and exhibit their creations there. Photo shows picture book illustrators conducting business meetings with overseas publishers. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led an industry delegation to participate in the 63rd Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy, and sponsored the industry's set-up of the Hong Kong Pavilion therein, which showcased more than 1 000 pieces of publications and printed works from over 60 Hong Kong publishers and printers from April 13 to 16 (Bologna time). CCIDA also sponsored emerging picture book illustrators and a comic artist to attend the Fair and exhibit their creations there. Photo shows Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Miss Yvonne Ip (right) having an exchange with an emerging picture book illustrator. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led an industry delegation to participate in the 63rd Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy, and sponsored the industry’s set-up of the Hong Kong Pavilion therein, which showcased more than 1 000 pieces of publications and printed works from over 60 Hong Kong publishers and printers from April 13 to 16 (Bologna time). CCIDA also sponsored emerging picture book illustrators and a comic artist to attend the Fair and exhibit their creations there. Photo shows Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Miss Yvonne Ip (fifth left), an industry representative and emerging picture book illustrators attending the Fair. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cybersecurity industry delegation attends 2026 China Cybersecurity Week

To echo the annual China Cybersecurity Week, the Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Daniel Cheung, and the Acting Deputy Commissioner (Digital Infrastructure), Ms Cari Wu, today (September 14) led Hong Kong cybersecurity industry delegations to Jinan and Guangzhou to attend the 2026 China Cybersecurity Week main venue events and the 2026 Guangdong Cybersecurity Week events respectively, with a view to deepening collaboration and exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland on cybersecurity.

Mr Cheung and his delegation attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 China Cybersecurity Week, and he delivered a keynote speech at the Cybersecurity Technology Summit on the measures of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in addressing AI security risks. He said that this year marks the opening year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and Hong Kong will announce the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) to actively dovetail with the national plan and the AI+ Initiative, leveraging the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland while maintaining deep global connections, building a trustworthy, safe and responsible AI governance framework, thereby fully integrating into and serving the country's overarching development.

Mr Cheung said, "Navigating the new opportunities and challenges brought by AI, the HKSAR Government is committed to promoting development of AI and high-quality economic growth under the premise of controllable risks by adopting a principle with reference to safety and applications. We endeavour to comprehensively enhance Hong Kong's capability to address AI security risks in six aspects, through refining regulations and governance frameworks, empowering public services and strengthening official safeguards, facilitating data flow and data security, boosting social support and industry collaboration, deepening Greater Bay Area and international synergy, as well as cultivating professional talent while raising public literacy."

On the same day, Ms Wu and her delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Guangdong Cybersecurity Week in Guangzhou, and she delivered a speech at the ceremony. She stated that in active response to the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the AI+ Initiative, the HKSAR Government is more proactively integrating into and serving the overall national development, while following a holistic approach to development and security. Looking ahead, Hong Kong and Guangdong Province will continue to collaborate closely in the fields of digitalisation and cybersecurity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to jointly build a robust regional security barrier, ensuring that security and development complement each other. Ms Wu also met with the Hong Kong teams participating in the Bay Area Cup cybersecurity competition during the event and encouraged the youths to seize the opportunities of the intelligent era, enhance their practical skills, and contribute to the cybersecurity development of the country and Hong Kong.

In addition, the Assistant Commissioner (Project Governance and Cybersecurity), Mr Ken Siu, will attend the 2026 China Cybersecurity Week Macao Sub-forum on September 18, further deepening the close ties among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in the field of cybersecurity and further consolidating the GBA cybersecurity collaboration network.

In support of the annual promotional work of the China Cybersecurity Week, the Digital Policy Office, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, has launched a series of cybersecurity awareness and public education activities under the theme "Innovate with Grace, Peace in Cyberspace", including the 2026 China Cybersecurity Week Hong Kong Sub-forum, an AI-generated four-panel comic contest, and tram promotion activities, with a view to enhancing public awareness of cybersecurity. Please visit the thematic webpage (www.cybersecurity.hk/en/csw-main.php) for details.

Hong Kong cybersecurity industry delegation attends 2026 China Cybersecurity Week Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cybersecurity industry delegation attends 2026 China Cybersecurity Week Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cybersecurity industry delegation attends 2026 China Cybersecurity Week Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong cybersecurity industry delegation attends 2026 China Cybersecurity Week Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases