Meet the young designers leading growth in Hong Kong’s creative industries despite challenges

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has pledged to boost the city’s creative industries, but struggling young entrepreneurs say so far help is lacking

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Ceramicist Grace Tong runs her pottery business from a rented studio at a converted factory in Kwai Chung. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 8:03am, 19 Aug 2017Updated: 11:07am, 19 Aug 2017

Hong Kong’s young creative entrepreneurs have insisted they continue to face significant social, financial and cultural barriers to success despite being hailed as key to the generation who will drive the city’s economy into the future.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has pledged to boost creative industries as the city loses ground on its traditional strengths such as retail. But those working in the creative sector have suggested their success is almost entirely self-made, as they battle to survive in a difficult economic climate with minimal government assistance.

It remains doubtful whether Hong Kong’s highly bureaucratic government has the means to push forward creative industries. The city lacks an overarching authority dedicated to the cause. The government set up CreateHK under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau in June 2009 in a bid to drive development, but it lacks the power to formulate policy. This responsibility lies solely with the bureau.

Products by ceramicist Grace Tong Hiu-yan. Photo: Jonathan Wong

CreateHK supports the Design Incubation Programme, administered by the non-profit Hong Kong Design Centre, which aims to nurture start-ups. But between 2005 and 2015, the programme supported only 170 design start-ups – less than 20 per year. Designers have claimed that is not enough to supply demand in the city. The government, which celebrated a 12th consecutive fiscal surplus this year, has promised it will be expanded.

Ceramicist Grace Tong Hiu-yan, who runs her pottery business Hiuchi from a rented studio at a converted factory in Kwai Chung, said it was “really difficult” to start her company in 2015 because of a lack of government support for independent design businesses.