I&T DEVELOPMENT BLUEPRINT SET FOR HK

To chart Hong Kong in moving full steam towards its vision of an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, the Government will promulgate the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint.

Chief Executive John Lee made the statement today while delivering his Policy Address and stressed that I&T is a key impetus for the city’s high-quality economic development.

He added that apart from promoting such a blueprint within this year, the Government will set out major policies under four broad development directions.

Central to that vision is the goal of promoting commercialisation of research and development (R&D) outcomes.

Mr Lee pointed out that the first goal is to enhance the I&T ecosystem and achieve reindustrialisation in the city.

He explained that because Hong Kong has strong capabilities in scientific research, the Government will earmark $10 million to launch the Research, Academic & Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme.

It will fund, on a matching basis, at least 100 research teams in universities which have good potential to become startups with the aim of incentivising collaboration among industry, academic and research sectors to further promote the “1 to N” transformation of R&D outcomes and the industry development.

As part of that objective, the Government will support the development of the technology industry by actively promoting Hong Kong’s new opportunities to the Mainland and overseas.

It will collaborate with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) and make use of the $5 billion Strategic Tech Fund as well as the land space provided for I&T uses starting from 2024 in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park (HSITP) in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

The idea is to attract high-quality enterprises and talent to Hong Kong primarily focusing on industries such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology.

In doing so, the Government’s goal is to attract no fewer than 100 high-potential or representative I&T enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong in the coming five years, including at least 20 top-notch I&T enterprises, bringing more than $10 billion of investment to Hong Kong and creating thousands of local job opportunities.

To encourage the idea of pressing ahead with reindustrialisation, Mr Lee said the Government will create the post of Commissioner for Industry. The individual will co-ordinate and steer the strategy on reindustrialisation and assist the manufacturing sector in upgrading and transformation by making use of I&T.

In addition to exploring the construction of the second Advanced Manufacturing Centre at the Tai Po InnoPark, the Government will subsidise the setting up of more smart production lines in Hong Kong under the Re‑industrialisation Funding Scheme and will strengthen the collaboration with the Hong Kong Productivity Council to support enterprises in upgrading to smart production, he pointed out.

It will also move full steam ahead with the construction of the HSITP and expedite the development of San Tin Technopole in the Northern Metropolis. Meantime, the expansion works of the Science Park and Cyberport will be completed in phases from 2025 onward, providing 100,000 sq m of additional floor area.

Moreover, the Government is planning the Science Park/Pak Shek Kok Station of the East Rail Line for commissioning by 2033.

Mr Lee revealed that the blueprint also calls for plans to enlarge the I&T talent pool to create strong impetus for growth, with additional measures focusing on attracting I&T talent.

As part of that master plan, the Government will attract leading talent from around the globe. By collaborating with the OASES, it will provide special facilitation measures in a targeted manner to attract top‑notch I&T talents to bring with them their business or R&D outcomes to Hong Kong.

Furthermore, it will enhance existing technology talent schemes, such as Tech-TAS by lifting the local employment requirement, extending the quota validity period to two years and expanding the coverage to more emerging technology areas.

Such plans comprise building more accommodation facilities for I&T talent with the aim of exploring the development of a new InnoCell near Science Park and accommodation facilities for talent at the HSITP.

In an effort to expand the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Internship Scheme, the Government will offer local I&T internship opportunities to university students studying STEM programmes overseas or at Greater Bay Area campuses established by designated local universities.

Another proposal Mr Lee shared in his Policy Address is to develop Hong Kong into a smart city in an effort to improve the quality of life of all citizens.

The Government will start by building a smart government with the aim of turning all government services online in two years and provide one-stop digital services by fully adopting “iAM Smart” within three years so as to realise a single portal for online government services.

The Chief Executive explained that apart from efforts to continue to actively open up data and encourage public and private organisations to follow suit for innovative industry applications, the Government will also explore with the Mainland the arrangements for the flow of data from the Mainland to Hong Kong, with a view to jointly promoting the co‑ordinated development of smart cities in the bay area.

It will also further expand the 5G network by amending the legislation next year to ensure that appropriate space is made available in new buildings for installation of mobile communication facilities.

The Government will strive to proactively integrate into the overall development of the country and consolidate Hong Kong’s advantages as an international city. As such, Mr Lee noted that the HSITP is the bridgehead for I&T co‑operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

On the basis of “one country, two parks” and through in‑depth co‑operation with Shenzhen, Mr Lee said the Government will study the trial implementation of a cross‑boundary policy on I&T co‑operation in an innovative, exclusive and designated manner, covering the flows of I&T material, capital, data and people between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

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