Ask Simon Lee Chun-him how he feels about the past two years, and he enthuses: "It was pretty surreal. I basically went from nobody to a famous YouTube celebrity."

Two years ago, the Hong Kong Design Institute student was taking a public relations course at a technical institute, but deep down he was drawn to film studies at the design institute's campus nearby

"I remembered every day when I walked past the rooftop garden and saw film students shooting with their cameras, I kept thinking that I was wasting my time," says the 20 year-old, who was then already a film buff.

He was so driven that finally he decided to switch to the institute to study film and television. His application was accepted. Not only did Lee change his study option, his online video venture Weirdo Production - which he founded last year with best friends Timothy Chiu Kam-tim, Joseph To Chun-yin and Leung Wai-lok - has also become one of the hottest local YouTube channels in town since its launch. It now boasts more than 40,000 subscribers.

What's more, with the looming television war in Hong Kong, led by Ricky Wong Wai-kay's aggressive Hong Kong Television Network, the prospects for local film and television graduates have never been greater.

Writes Chris Lau for South China Morning Post.


Commentary from Anna Lee, British Council

The creative industries play an increasingly important role in Hong Kong’s economy and have been identified as a strong driving force for the territory’s future development. It accounts for 4.7% of Hong Kong’s GDP, employing 193,000 people*. The development of West Kowloon Cultural District, one of the largest art and cultural projects in the world, is also creating a large number of new employment opportunities for local arts talent.

Set against this growth is a shortage of Arts talent in Hong Kong. Therefore, higher education provision will be key in meeting the required supply of professionals in the creative industries. Referring to UCAS data, the number of Hong Kong students applying for creative arts and design courses in the UK increased from 1,473 applications in 2012 to 1,623 applications in 2013. The increased interest in art and design courses provides an opportunity for UK institutions to recruit students to Arts & Design faculties – meaning Hong Kong should no longer be viewed as a Business and Finance focus market.

*Hong Kong Government Creative Industries fact sheet, November 2013.


Should you have any queries about the Hong Kong market, and prospects for student recruitment or institution partnerships please contact Steve Corry, Regional Business Development Manager at (852) 2913 5156 or e-mail to steven.corry@britishcouncil.org.hk.