Open data policy
New open data policy
Mr CHAN Chun-ying noted that according to GODI 2016-2017 ranking, Hong Kong ranked 24 out of 94 economies. He was concerned that Hong Kong even scored zero in the area of open data for land ownership. Mr CHAN asked what the Administration would do to improve its ranking in GODI, and whether land records of Land Registers could be made available for the public free of charge.
S for IT said that under the new policy, B/Ds should in principle open up their data for use by the public free of charge as far as possible, and they were required to publish their first annual open data plans by end 2018. GCIO added that in formulating their annual open data plans, B/Ds would take into account factors such as information security, personal privacy and financial implications to the Government, in addition to demands from the public and the industry, and ensure that the opening up would comply with relevant ordinances such as the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486).
Annual open data plans
Noting that the estimated number of new datasets to be opened by the Government in 2019 would exceed 500, Mr CHAN Chun-ying asked for an update on the progress for consolidating the first annual open data plans, including the extent of the data planned to be opened and whether all government data would be made available to the public.
S for IT advised that B/Ds were required to formulate and publish their annual open data plans on their departmental web pages covering the datasets which had been released in the PSI portal and datasets to be released in the following three years. While OGCIO was still consolidating the first annual open data plans provided by B/Ds, it was expected that the number of new datasets to be opened by the Government in 2019 would exceed 600.
Review of and Proposed Funding Injection to the Film Development Fund
Expanding new markets
Mr CHAN Chun-ying expressed support for the proposed injection into FDF. He noted that the consultancy study had recommended that the Administration should promote Hong Kong films in the Greater Bay Area cities and among the Belt and Road countries and regions. Mr CHAN asked whether the Administration would learn from the experience of South Korea and encourage local producers to promote local brands through distribution of local films outside Hong Kong. He also suggested that the Administration should identify new opportunities of collaboration with other markets along the Belt and Road such as Turkmenistan with a view to achieving synergy between the film industry and the tourism industry of Hong Kong and other places.
SCED said that the film industry was a major soft strength of Hong Kong. To assist the local film industry to explore markets outside Hong Kong and to capitalize on the opportunities arising from the Greater Bay Area Development and the Belt and Road Initiative, the Administration would continue to organize and participate in local film festivals in collaboration with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the Mainland and overseas. Film elements would also be added to roadshows promoting Hong Kong’s competitive edges. In addition, the Administration might also invite directors, cast members and crew members to participate in those festivals to exchange ideas with counterparts and meet with local audiences.
Film release
Mr CHAN Chun-ying recalled that he had previously suggested that the Administration should broadcast films funded under FDF through the television channels of Radio Television Hong Kong (“RTHK”) after their release in local cinemas, in order to increase their exposure among local audience and raise the average television rating of RTHK.
SCED responded that screening platforms of a local production was decided by the concerned distributors. Apart from releasing films in cinemas, there were other channels for distribution of the production.