Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong and Vice Minister of Science & Technology Prof Zhang Guangjun today co-chaired the 17th meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science & Technology Co-operation Committee in Hong Kong.

Both sides also witnessed Cyberport being awarded as a State-level Scientific & Technological Enterprise Incubator by the Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST), a recognition of the Cyberport’s efforts in providing incubation and support services to Hong Kong startup enterprises.

Prof Sun said at the meeting that the National 14th Five-Year Plan clearly indicates support for Hong Kong to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, and provides a new positioning and mission for its development. 

Following the promulgation of the Hong Kong Innovation & Technology Development Blueprint last year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government signed two agreements with the relevant Mainland authorities this year, to further promote the city’s development into an international I&T centre and its better integration into national development.

The two agreements are: the Arrangement between the Mainland & Hong Kong on Expediting the Development of Hong Kong into an International Innovation & Technology Centre and the Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating Cross-boundary Data Flow Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Expressing gratitude to the central government and MOST for their staunch support for Hong Kong's I&T development over the years, Prof Sun said many important measures were implemented in the past year, including the expansion of national science and technology programmes open to Hong Kong and promoting the cross-boundary flow of key elements of scientific research.

The assessment exercise of five State Key Laboratories (SKLs) in Hong Kong and six Hong Kong Branches of Chinese National Engineering Research Centres has also been completed. Both sides have discussed the restructuring of the SKLs and are drawing up the work plan.

Looking ahead, the technology chief said the Hong Kong SAR Government will deepen co-operation in I&T with the Mainland, and work together with MOST to advance the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T centre as well as the development of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone in the Loop.

Both sides will explore the implementation of dedicated cross-boundary measures enabling the co-operation zone to serve as the bridgehead for intensive I&T co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, introducing more facilitation measures to promote I&T elements such as materials, capital, talent, information and technology, and enabling the city to contribute further to the science and technology development of the country, Prof Sun added.

Noting that the country has expanded the scope of future development of the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong, and opened up a new path for the city's I&T development, he said Hong Kong will live up to its mission the country has entrusted to it and support the high-quality development of the bay area.

“We will continue to strengthen I&T co-operation with different Mainland provinces and cities, thereby complementing each other's strengths and leveraging Hong Kong's edge to serve the needs of the country, and to contribute to the country's grand vision of realising self-reliance and self-improvement and building a strong nation in science and technology."