Hong Kong Launches 6th Game Enhancement and Promotion Scheme to Boost Local Game Development and Talent

Launch Ceremony of 6th Hong Kong Game Enhancement and Promotion Scheme held

Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association, the 6th Hong Kong Game Enhancement and Promotion Scheme (GEPS) held its launch ceremony today (August 14). Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Miss Yvonne Ip attended the ceremony as the officiating guest.

A total of five local start-up game companies were selected this year, covering game genres such as role-playing, simulation management, tower defense strategy and more. Some content also integrates elements of local culture, showcasing the diverse creativity of the local game design teams.

This year's GEPS will continue to arrange for experienced industry professionals to provide professional guidance to the selected companies, and will organise a series of practical workshops on marketing, game testing and capital introduction, thereby enhancing their capabilities in game operation and marketing. GEPS will also sponsor each company to engage young graduates as interns to assist with the content optimisation and testing prior to the launch of the games and to provide the interns with on-the-job training. Additionally, GEPS will further enhance the public exposure and international visibility of the selected companies and their games through various online and offline promotional channels.

GEPS aims to nurture local game development talent and drive the sustainable development of Hong Kong's game industry as well as the digital entertainment creative ecosystem. Since its launch, GEPS has subsidised nearly 60 local start-up games, with some funded companies having generated over $10 million in revenue and more than 1 million downloads, fully demonstrating the development potential of Hong Kong's game entertainment industry. For more information on GEPS, please visitwww.geps.hk.

The 6th Hong Kong Game Enhancement and Promotion Scheme sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau held its launch ceremony today (August 14). Photo shows representatives of the selected game companies interacting with interns. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The 6th Hong Kong Game Enhancement and Promotion Scheme sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau held its launch ceremony today (August 14). Photo shows Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries Miss Yvonne Ip (second row, centre), the Chairman of the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association, Mr Gabriel Pang (second row, fourth right), representatives of the selected game companies and other guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming male passengers were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 7) 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 two incoming Mainland male passengers, aged 32 and 42, at Hong Kong International Airport on September 5 and 6 respectively, seized a total of 61 816 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $280,000 and a duty potential of about $205,000 from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect 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).

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases