(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-20 19:40

HONG KONG  -- Hong Kong was regarded as the best platform for reaching the Chinese mainland and Asian film and entertainment markets, according to an industry survey released here Thursday.

The survey was conducted by an independent company commissioned by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. It interviewed 338 exhibitors and buyers attending the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market(FILMART) and the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). Seventy-seven percent of them agreed that Hong Kong is a major Asian content production, distribution, trading and film financing center.

Hong Kong's favorable factor include creative talent, a strong distribution network in Asia, world-class industry events, state- of-the-art technology and internationally acclaimed producers and actors, according to the survey.

Another driver is the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement ( CEPA), which gives Hong Kong companies greater access to the mainland market, the survey said.

More than 90 percent of the respondents agree that co- production is the latest trend. About 55 percent believe that Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland will build the region's closest co- production partnership.

More than half of the respondents have acquired content from Hong Kong, followed by the Chinese mainland, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Hong Kong is also recognized as the hub for buying and selling Chinese film and TV dramas.