HONG KONG, Feb. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation ("HKCAF"), with the support from Create Hong Kong ("CreateHK") of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the lead sponsor, launched the second edition of "HK Comics Support Programme" ("HKCSP"). A kick-off ceremony cum press conference was held at the Innocentre, Kowloon Tong today to announce the 15 selected local comics companies that are admitted to the second HKCSP, their comics artists and their comics proposals. The organiser was honoured to have Mrs. Lowell CHO LAI Suk-ha, Assistant Head of CreateHK as the Guest-of-Honour of the ceremony. She was joined by Mr. Tony WONG, Chairman of the HKCAF, Mr. MA Wing-shing, renowned Hong Kong comics artist and the Chairman of the HKCSP Judging Panel, and Mr. Alan WAN, Vice President of the HKCAF to officiate at the kick-off ceremony.

Compared with the first edition, the second HKCSP gathered even better responses, with a total of 92 applications received, and the themes and styles of the applying comics proposals were diversified. After reviewing the level of creativity, market potential, capability of the production teams, artistic styles and skills, as well as past performances of the applying comics companies, the judges selected 15 applicants to receive the subsides and support to turn their proposed original comics works into new comics titles ("subsidised comics").

Mr. Tony WONG, Chairman of the HKCAF, said at the kick-off ceremony that "the first HKCSP attained encouraging achievements and overwhelming responses from the industry, which are far beyond our expectation. The HKCSP has increased the popularity of the 15 selected comics companies and helped them further explore local and overseas markets. Some of their subsidised comics even won international awards. We are grateful for the huge support from CreateHK. Consolidated the experience of the first HKCSP, the HKCAF is able to step up efforts in the second edition to provide more comprehensive support to the selected comics companies, hoping to nurture and bring more creative talent together. By providing more platforms for idea exchanges and business opportunities ahead, comics artists with creativity and capability could showcase their works in the global arena through the HKCSP."

Mrs. Lowell CHO LAI Suk-ha, Assistant Head of CreateHK, expressed her gratitude to the HKCAF at the kick-off ceremony for organizing the HKCSP again and congratulated the 15 selected comics companies and comics artists. She looked forward to the 15 subsidised comics to be launched at "Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong" ("ACGHK") in July 2023 which will help inject a robust new energy to Hong Kong comics.

The second HKCSP continues to provide financial subsidies and comprehensive support to the selected comics companies including training, mentoring from industry experts and a series of promotion campaigns. With a view to raising the quality of these subsidised comics, the second HKCSP also raises the maximum subsidy to each selected comics company to HK$240,000, and the mentorship to them is optimised by adding one-on-one editorial session by industry experts on top of the small-group mentorship to individual selected comics company, in order to provide timely advice and assistance.

To help the selected comics companies further explore business opportunities and maximise the exposure of their subsidised comics in local and overseas markets, these subsidised comics would be presented at Hong Kong Pavilion of well-established comics events, including the ACGHK to be held in July 2023 and "Malaysia Comic Fiesta" to be held in December 2023, as well as a new art exhibition to be held in Hong Kong featuring the original comics art works created under the HKCSP. An Awards Presentation Ceremony will also be organised again to recognise the outstanding subsidised comics of the second HKCSP. 

The 15 selected comics companies of the second HKCSP are listed below (in alphabetical order of company names):

^[1] The selected comics companies and comics artists may change the names of  their subsidised comics later in the production stage. Titles announced in the official launch will be final.

For more details about the second HKCSP, please visit the website https://www.hkcsp.hk/main. 

About Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation (HKCAF) was founded in 1999, with an aim to unite comics and animation industries to promote comics and animation culture, and to strengthen the positive awareness of the publics on comics and animation. The HKCAF is committed to connecting the local comics and animation industries with their international counterparts, as well as nurturing local comics artists and animation talent. Website: https://www.hkcaf.hk/

About Create Hong KongCreate Hong Kong (CreateHK) is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in June 2009 to spearhead the development of creative industries in Hong Kong. From 1 July 2022 onwards, it is under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community. CreateHK sponsors the HKCAF to organise various projects, including the "HK Comics Support Programme", to promote Hong Kong animations and comics. Website: http://www.createhk.gov.hk.