CE visits Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&amp;D Centre and meets with I&amp;T start-ups
20.2.2020

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) at the Hong Kong Science Park this afternoon (February 20) to learn about its research and development and production of electronic wristbands for the Government's home quarantine measure. She also exchanged views with the persons-in-charge of some start-ups in the park to learn more about their businesses. Accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang and the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong, Mrs Lam visited the LSCM. After the LSCM knew during the Chinese New Year holidays that the Government was looking for an electronic device to monitor whether people under compulsory quarantine are staying at their dwelling places, all its team members worked together to complete the research and development, testing and production of the electronic wristbands within just a few days. The electronic wristbands have now become an important tool for the Government in monitoring people under home quarantine. With the rise in the number of people under home quarantine, the LSCM continues to improve the product and increase production, making available nearly 2 000 wristbands for use now. In addition, staff members of the LSCM also participate in the work to assist people under quarantine to wear the wristbands. They are patient in explaining the details, thereby successfully convincing a large majority of people under quarantine to comply with the requirement. Expressing her gratitude to the staff members for leveraging their expertise to support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's anti-epidemic work, Mrs Lam praised them for their enthusiasm for Hong Kong and their contribution to public health. Founded in 2006 with funding from the Innovation and Technology Fund of the HKSAR Government, the LSCM has been fostering the development of core competencies in logistics and supply chain related technologies in Hong Kong. Mrs Lam then met with the persons-in-charge of some startups at the Hong Kong Science Park to learn about their businesses during the epidemic. She noted that the business environment of technology enterprises, particularly startups, has become difficult since the second half of last year and that the recent epidemic has worsen the situation. To this end, the HKSAR Government proposed to use the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide tenants and start-ups at the Hong Kong Science Park, industrial estates and Cyberport a six-month rental waiver. About 1 800 tenants are expected to benefit from it. She said she hopes that the measure will help retain innovation and technology (I&T) capability and talent, enabling the city to relaunch the sector's development down the road. She said the Government will listen to views of the sector and actively consider to roll out more support measures. Mrs Lam also pointed out that the Anti-epidemic Fund proposes to provide subsidy to participants of exhibitions and conventions organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and all other organisers of exhibitions and international conventions at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo in order to retain and attract convention and exhibition events in Hong Kong after the epidemic, reinvigorating the city's reputation as an international premier convention and exhibition hub. She said she believes the I&T industry will also benefit from the initiative. She added that she looks forward to the early passage of the funding application of the Anti-epidemic Fund by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. Ends/Thursday, February 20, 2020 Issued at HKT 21:43 NNNN