Editorial | Hong Kong creative industries in need of a boost
- Hong Kong used to be a global player in the television, film and music sectors but the shine has worn off in the past couple of decades; now is the time for a reboot
If there is anything indicative of Hong Kong’s soft power, it would probably be the television, film and Canto-pop industries. They have helped put the city on the global map of pop culture, with their works followed by Chinese-speaking communities and beyond around the world during the golden era of the last century.
Today, they continue to have an appeal, though not as strong as before.
The recent surge in the popularity of boy band Mirror and a gay-themed TV soap opera featuring its members have been in the spotlight in the city and elsewhere. Whether it is the start of a new golden era remains to be seen.
ViuTV, the underdog broadcaster, is flexing its muscles by thinking outside the box.
But it will take more than one popular performance group or production to reboot the wider creative industries. Hong Kong used to be at the forefront in the region when it came to pop culture, until South Korean K-pop and K-dramas seized centre stage.
