Clustering of cultural and creative industry in old industrial buildings in Hong Kong : a case study of Fo Tan

Abstract

Cultural and creative industries are often considered as one of the latest knowledge-based economy that prevailed around the world. Globalization makes the concept of cultural and creativity spread all over the world. The rise of the creative class, which has permanently transformed our economy and society, has rapidly transformed the world (Florida, 2002). Florida has suggested the creative classes have become more pronounced in recent decades and people around the world start to live differently, pursuing a new stage of lifestyles (Florida, 2002). In Hong Kong, cultural and creative industry has only been considered in the Policy Address in 2009, which has become as one of the six new pillars industry in Hong Kong. The transformation of the economic and industrial structure in Hong Kong has injected new value-added elements in economic development. How could Hong Kong react to this change? Currently, the territory does not even have policies that promoted cultural and creative industry. Cultural and creative industries are not greatly promoted. Different artists joined together and formed different artists organization in order to protect their own value and promote the concept of cultural and arts among citizens. In this dissertation, the clustering of cultural and creative industry in Hong Kong will be discussed. Different concepts and theories about the shaping of a cultural city will be analysed. Locational factors that lead to the clustering of cultural and creative industry in Hong Kong will be examined. A local case study – Fo Tan – will be examined by all the theories and concepts regarding to this clustering effect of cultural and creative industry. Fo Tan is one of the most significant industrial areas with most cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong. Different locational factors will be examined and see if they could be fitted into the local context. Moreover, the institutional setting of cultural and creative industry and urban planning system will be analysed and see if there are any deficiencies. With all the above mentioned, this dissertation hopes to see if government policies could help the development of cultural and creative industries and if different sectors in cultural and creative industries could co-exist in Fo Tan. Looking into the future, we would like to see what the Government or other private sector could do in order to help consolidate the cluster of cultural and creative industry in Fo Tan.