Alibaba Pictures also aims to set up an office in the SAR as its second base, and partner with local movie studios to boost filmmakers' outreach on the Mainland.

The announcement comes shortly after the Financial Secretary Paul Chan unveiled his latest annual Budget, which included a $1.4 billion injection for the Film Development Fund as the city's movie sector strives to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

After 9:45, we hear more about Ocean Park's newly named tenant: Passion, a Siamese crocodile found in Pat Heung last year.


9:05am-9:45am: Alibaba's HK$5 billion investment in HK's film industry

9:05am-9:30am: Prof Ellen Elizabeth Seiter, Director, Academy of Film, Hong Kong Baptist University

9:05am-9:30am: Prof Andy Kwan, Director, ACE Centre for Business and Economic Research

9:05am-9:45am: Darrell William Davis, Honorary Professor, Digital Arts and Creative Industries, Centre for Film and Creative Industries, Lingnan University 

9:30am-9:45am: Zeed, an independent filmmaker who has recently been part of Fallen Leaves, Broken Lighters, an anthology film


9:45am-10:00am: Introducing Passion: Ocean Park's female Siamese crocodile

9:45am-10:00am: Anthony Chang, Senior Curator of Zoological Operations, Ocean Park