A symposium is held on the new opportunities that have emerged from the central government’s policies on Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development, Sept 7, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Officials from the central government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region put their heads together with local experts on Tuesday at a Hong Kong symposium that highlighted new opportunities that have emerged from the central government’s policies on the city’s innovation and technology development.
Jointly held by the Hong Kong SAR Innovation and Technology Bureau, the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, the event came amid explicit support in the national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for Hong Kong developing into an international innovation and technology hub. The seminar was held at the Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin, New Territories.
Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Secretary Alfred Sit Wing-hang said as an important contributor to the national development of science and technology, Hong Kong has a solid research basis and scientific research strengths, especially in life sciences
In a speech, Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Secretary Alfred Sit Wing-hang said that as an important contributor to the national development of science and technology, Hong Kong has a solid research basis and scientific research strengths, especially in life sciences. He thanked the central government for the many favorable policies for Hong Kong that acknowledge its strengths in these areas.
Another big opportunity around the corner for Hong Kong’s innovation and technology industry is the national 14th Five-Year Plan, Sit said.
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Sit said that to consolidate these opportunities, the SAR government will strive to contribute to national science and technology development via “dual circulation”. Externally, Hong Kong will enhance its collaboration with the international world on science and technology, he said. Internally, it will continue to forge and deepen technological collaboration with the Chinese mainland.
Hong Kong Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit Wing-hang speaks on the work focus for the development of an international innovation and technology hub at a seminar on the central government's science and technology policies benefitting Hong Kong, Sept 7, 2021. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
Hong Kong on Monday signed agreements with neighboring Shenzhen on jointly building a science park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop. The agreement was one of the several signed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who was in Shenzhen to attend the High-level Meeting cum Hong Kong/Shenzhen Co-operation Meeting 2021.
Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, vice-president for Research and Development at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said the city’s innovation and technology development has entered a “golden era”, with a series of supporting policies and measures rendered by the country and the Hong Kong government in place
Addressing the seminar, Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, vice-president for Research and Development at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, agreed that the city’s innovation and technology development has entered a “golden era”, with a series of supporting policies and measures rendered by the country and the Hong Kong government in place.
Under such circumstances, the science and technology sector needs to seize the opportunities and proactively integrate into the nation’s overall development, said Ip, who is one of the co-founders of the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians.
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Ip said she hopes that in addition to expanding Hong Kong academicians’ access to the national sci-tech fund, the city’s scholars could have more ways to engage in the nation’s inno-tech development, such as playing a part in the consultation procedure of the nation’s key development strategies.
In her speech, Ip also called for more communication between authorities and the science sector in a bid to deepen mutual understanding and ensure that the policies that can boost the city’s inno-tech development will be well implemented.
A group of four keynote speakers, including Tan Tieniu, deputy director of the Central People’s Government's Liaison Office in the Hong Kong SAR, and Xu Jie, deputy director-general of the Department of International Cooperation (Office of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan Affairs) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, gave speeches at the symposium.
Following their speeches, representatives from the innovation and technology sector also shared their insights during a panel discussion.