kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
SITI visits Chongqing (with photos)
12.5.2023

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit in Chongqing today (May 12), after accompanying the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, to attend the High-Level Meeting cum First Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Chongqing Co-operation Conference yesterday. Professor Sun visited the Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau (the Bureau) and met with the Bureau's Director, Mr Ming Ju, to exchange views on fostering co-operation in innovation and technology (I&T) between Hong Kong and Chongqing, and promoting the implementation of the "Co-operation Memorandum on Innovation and Technology between Hong Kong and Chongqing" in areas including research and development, transformation and realisation of I&T outcomes, innovation and entrepreneurship of scientific and technological talents, exchange of talents and technologies, and academic exchanges between the two places. He believes that the signing of the Co-operation Memorandum at the Hong Kong/Chongqing Co-operation Conference yesterday will lay a good foundation for further co-operation and exchanges in the I&T field between the two places. He also strongly hoped that the I&T co-operation between the two places could reach new heights. On the same day, Professor Sun visited the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Chongqing Municipal People's Government and met with the Commission's Party Member and Deputy Director General, Ms Chen Yan. Professor Sun briefed the Commission on the layout and the latest policies of the I&T industry in Hong Kong. He also learned about the transformation and upgrading of local traditional industries driven by innovation. The two sides also discussed on promoting co-operation and exchanges between the technology industries of Chongqing and Hong Kong. Professor Sun encouraged Mainland enterprises to make good use of Hong Kong's international platform to expand into overseas markets. Professor Sun then toured the smart production lines of the Chongqing Silian Measure & Control Technology Company Limited, which specialises in the design, development and large-scale production of industrial automation instruments and control devices as well as electronic functional materials and devices. Professor Sun will conclude his visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow.
SITI continues visit in Switzerland (with photos)
28.4.2023

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to Switzerland in Basel yesterday (April 27, Basel time). Professor Sun in Basel separately visited the Roche Group and Novartis, two multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare companies with their founding traced back to over a hundred years and two centuries respectively. In the morning, Professor Sun met with Head of Pharma International of the Roche Group, Mr Padraic Ward, and received a briefing on the company's operation in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics pillars and latest technology in precision medicine. Noting that the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Roche had signed an agreement on strategic collaboration to lead Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to become a pioneer in life science innovation and to be an example for the region in January this year, he looked forward to seeing expansion of scope of their collaboration and encouraged the group to enhance investment in Hong Kong. In the afternoon, Professor Sun met with the President of Novartis Group (China), Mr Daniel Brindle, to learn about the group's latest business development in the Greater China, including Hong Kong. The group aims at reimagining medicine by using innovative science and technology to help address healthcare issues in society. Professor Sun said Hong Kong is committed to developing into an international innovation and technology centre, and life and health technology is one of the key strategic industries in Hong Kong. He welcomed the group to enhance its business investment, and collaboration in research and development in Hong Kong in future. He also visited Novartis Pavillon which illustrates the past, present and future of medicine, healthcare and sciences in a digitally interactive manner to promote popularisation of science and technology. Professor Sun had a luncheon meeting with seniors of several local biotech companies. He also invited them to visit Hong Kong this year to explore more development opportunities. Professor Sun proceeded to Bern in the evening to call on the Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr Wang Shiting, during which he updated Mr Wang of the latest innovation and technology development in Hong Kong. Professor Sun will proceed to Lausanne on April 28 (Bern time) morning to continue his visit in Switzerland.
SITI commences visit to Switzerland (with photos)
27.4.2023

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, began his visit to Zurich, Switzerland yesterday (April 26, Zurich time). Professor Sun started the day by having a lunch meeting with Chief Executive Officer of Greater Zurich Area (GZA), Ms Sonja Wollkopf, to learn about the latest situation of attracting enterprises and investment, particularly in innovation and technology (I&T) industry, in the area. Professor Sun briefed her on the latest direction and strategies of Hong Kong's I&T development, and they explored opportunities for strengthening bilateral exchanges in I&T development between Hong Kong and Switzerland. GZA is a national, non-profit service company that operates promotion and marketing for the great Zurich economic area which consists of nine cantons in the German- and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland with each of them contributing specific technological competencies to the entire economic area. Professor Sun then visited ETH Zurich, which is a pioneering public research university in Europe and worldwide with world-class reputation in academia and industry, particularly in science and technology. He received a briefing on the university's achievements in research discoveries and innovations, and support to entrepreneurship, and the operation of Competence Center for Materials and Processes. ETH Zurich is one of the non-local partners under the InnoHK research clusters. After visiting the Multi-Scale Robotics Laboratory to learn about its latest technologies in clinical treatment, Professor Sun had exchanges with Hong Kong graduates who are currently doing research in ETH Zurich about their school life. He also presented them with new opportunities brought about by Hong Kong I&T development and welcomed them to return to Hong Kong. In the evening, Professor Sun paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Consular General in Zurich, Ms Chen Yun, and briefed her on Hong Kong's continuous efforts in integrating into national I&T development. Professor Sun will proceed to Basel and continue his visit in Switzerland on April 27 (Basel time).
SITI to visit Switzerland
25.4.2023

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, will depart for a visit to Switzerland tonight (April 25) to promote exchanges and collaboration on innovation and technology (I&T) development between Hong Kong and Switzerland. Professor Sun will make this trip to Geneva to support in person a Hong Kong delegation comprising around 500 representatives from universities, research and development centres, research laboratories, technology companies, government departments and secondary schools to participate in the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions 2023, in which Hong Kong's I&T community will present a record-high 293 projects in total. He will also speak at a Hong Kong reception at the exhibition hosted by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. During his visit, Professor Sun will also meet with local I&T leaders and companies to introduce to them Hong Kong's latest I&T developments, as well as investment and business opportunities in I&T area. He will visit local universities, research facilities and pharmaceutical companies as well. Professor Sun will return to Hong Kong in the morning on April 30. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.
SITI continues visit in Guangzhou (with photos)
31.3.2023

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit in Guangzhou today (March 31). In the morning, Professor Sun called on Standing Committee Member of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Xi to exchange views on deepening co-operation in innovation and technology (I&T) between Hong Kong and Guangdong. He pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will proactively promote high-quality development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and continue to work closely with relevant units of Guangdong Province, to explore specific measures in I&T co-operation and jointly promote the advancement of Chinese-style modernisation. Professor Sun also met with the Party Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, Mr Gong Guoping, and the Director General of the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, Ms Wang Yueqin, expressing gratitude for the staunch support from Guangdong Province to Hong Kong's I&T development throughout the years. He said that he was looking forward to expediting the implementation of the Co-operation Agreement on Technology and Innovation Exchange between Guangdong and Hong Kong recently signed this month. He hoped to continue deepening co-operation on technology and innovative exchange in different areas and bolstering collaborative innovation of industries, academia and research, as well as pressing ahead with the development of an international I&T centre in the GBA. Professor Sun visited the Nansha Information Technology Park to inspect its overall layout and learn about its latest development. He then toured the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Fok Ying Tung Research Institute located in the Park to study the Guangzhou-Hong Kong I&T co-operation and to understand the Institute's work in applied research and development (R&D) and transformation of R&D outcomes under the Guangdong-Hong Kong collaboration. He then visited the HKUST (Guangzhou) and was briefed by the President, Professor Lionel Ni, on campus development and operation of the University, as well as various I&T projects of the University. Yesterday afternoon (March 30), Professor Sun proceeded to the Nansha District of Guangzhou after visiting Shenzhen and met with the Secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Nansha District Committee, Mr Lu Yixian, to exchange views on promoting I&T linkage between the two places, achieving complementarity and enhancing joint technology innovation. Professor Sun said that Nansha is not only an important Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao co-operation platform in the GBA, but also a high-standard gateway facing Hong Kong, Macao and the rest of the world, which provides an ideal entry point for Hong Kong to better integrate into the overall development of the country. Professor Sun concluded his visit and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.
SITI to visit Shenzhen and Guangzhou 
29.3.2023

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, will depart for a visit to Shenzhen and Guangzhou tomorrow (March 30). During his visit to Shenzhen, Professor Sun and Shenzhen leaders will co-chair the Task Force for Hong Kong/Shenzhen Innovation and Technology (I&T) Cooperation meeting to discuss promoting bilateral collaboration in related fields, and sign the Arrangement on Comprehensive Promotion of Hong Kong/Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Cooperation in the meeting. He will also visit the Shenzhen I&T Zone of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong I&T Cooperation Zone at the Lok Ma Chau Loop and the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, as well as inspect technology companies. In Guangzhou, Professor Sun will call on leaders of Guangdong Province, meet with leaders of the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province and visit the Nansha District of Guangzhou. Professor Sun will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on March 31. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.
Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development holds first meeting (with photos)
28.3.2023

The Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development (CITID), chaired by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, held its first meeting today (March 28). At the meeting today, members were briefed on the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint as well as the Government's major initiatives on promoting innovation, technology (I&T) and industry development. They also shared their insights and exchanged opinions on key issues including the development of the artificial intelligence industry and the acceleration of commercialisation of research and development (R&D) outcomes. Professor Sun said, "Hong Kong is blessed with the staunch support from the country, and the Government is moving at full steam towards developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre along the four broad development directions and eight major strategies set out in the Blueprint. We treasure the views from relevant stakeholders on how we can formulate specific implementation measures to further enhance our I&T ecosystem. "My sincere gratitude to members for joining the CITID and their wise counsel on Hong Kong's I&T development, and I look forward to more in-depth and fruitful discussions in future meetings." Established on March 3, 2023, the CITID advises the Government on the directions and strategies as set out in the Blueprint on promoting development of I&T in Hong Kong, and enhances co-operation among stakeholders. It will deliberate topics such as promoting R&D, developing an I&T talent pool and infrastructure, and promoting new industrialisation. Members of the CITID comprise representatives and experts from academia, information technology, I&T industries and other relevant sectors, as well as relevant government officials.
Transcript of remarks by SITI on search results of National Anthem and "Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Expediting the Development of Hong Kong into an International Innovation and Technology Centre"
19.3.2023

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (March 19): Reporter: Professor Sun, you mentioned that there is a common station, data infrastructure, how do you think this is attractive to overseas talents? Are there any risks when having data shared between two places? And the second question, because you mentioned that Hong Kong has an important role in the nation's I&T development, how do you think by this can help Hong Kong as well? Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry: I said many times before that Hong Kong aims to build a data hub, Hong Kong wants to build an international centre in several areas, including AI and data science. Therefore, we have done a lot of work to try to attract data from Mainland China, as well as overseas, to come to Hong Kong. Meanwhile, we try to enhance our data infrastructure development, including considering the development of an AI Supercomputing Centre. We hope everything can go smoothly. Last week, we have signed an agreement with the MOST, the Ministry of Science and Technology, in particular, we talked about how to deepen the R&D co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. We tried to talk about sharing I&T resources in particular for science and technology development. We also talked about technology transfer, manpower exchange and so on. We want to in particular strengthen the advantage of the internationalisation of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, we will strengthen the co-ordination at the top level between Hong Kong and the Mainland authorities. Thank you. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Sydney ETO holds reception in Auckland to celebrate Year of Rabbit (with photos)
7.3.2023

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) hosted a reception in Auckland, New Zealand, today (March 7) to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Over 100 guests from various sectors including political and business circles, media, academic and community groups as well as government representatives attended the reception. Among them was the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Auckland, Mr Chen Shijie. Addressing the reception in a virtual speech, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said that Hong Kong and New Zealand have collaborated broadly on many fronts, including innovation and technology (I&T). The I&T sector in Hong Kong has been flourishing with an increasingly vibrant I&T ecosystem. He pointed out that the 14th Five-Year Plan has indicated the clear backing of Hong Kong to develop into an international I&T centre. Hong Kong is pushing ahead with the development of many I&T infrastructure projects, notably the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop area, to reinforce Hong Kong's leading position as the best gateway to the Mainland, in particular the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area market for international I&T enterprises. "We recently published the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint to establish a clear development path and formulate systematic strategic planning for our I&T development over the next five to 10 years, charting Hong Kong in moving full steam towards the vision of an international I&T centre. The Blueprint will be taken forward along four broad development directions, namely to enhance the I&T ecosystem and promote 'new industrialisation' in Hong Kong, to enlarge the I&T talent pool to create strong impetus for growth, to promote digital economy development and develop Hong Kong into a smart city, and to proactively integrate into the overall development of the country and consolidate our role as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the world," Professor Sun added. The Director of the Sydney ETO, Miss Trista Lim, said in her welcoming remarks that the Hello Hong Kong campaign heralds Hong Kong's return to the world stage. Hong Kong is pressing ahead with high-quality economic development through an array of proactive initiatives to attract enterprises and talents, as announced in the 2022 Policy Address and the 2023-24 Budget. Miss Lim also highlighted that the Government is vigorously pursuing an early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the world's largest free trade agreement to date. To promote Chinese traditional culture, a martial arts performance was staged at the reception. The reception in Auckland marked the conclusion of Chinese New Year celebration events hosted by the Sydney ETO in different cities across Australia and New Zealand.
SITI continues visit in Paris (with photos)
25.5.2024

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit in Paris, France on May 25 (Paris time). Professor Sun accompanied the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, to visit the Innovation Hub of Groupe ADP at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. They listened to the group's overall and international businesses, as well as its latest developments including promoting development of smart airports and low-carbon transformation, as well as supporting the Paris Olympics. They also learnt about the strategic direction and relevant plans of the group's Innovation Hub. The Innovation Hub promotes spread of corporate innovation culture by organising conferences, workshops and various activities. It also rolls out pilot projects with start-ups, and supports the investment and financing needs of start-ups as well as partner investment funds. The Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Clement Woo, and the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Shirley Yung, also attended. In the afternoon on May 24 (Paris time), Professor Sun visited Station F, a start-up park in the city centre of Paris, to learn more about its operation mode and community network. The park provides start-ups with service on project plans as well as additional support from incubators and accelerators. The park is also actively establishing partnerships with innovation parks in other regions in the hope of attracting overseas enterprises to the park and making the composition of the park's enterprises more internationalised. Professor Sun concluded the visit in Paris in the afternoon on May 25 and will arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday (May 26, Hong Kong time).
SITI to visit Belgium and France
21.5.2024

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, will depart for a visit to Belgium and France tonight (May 21), with a view to strengthening Hong Kong's ties and co-operation in areas such as innovation and technology (I&T) with the European Union and France. Professor Sun will attend VivaTech 2024 in Paris, France, and deliver a keynote speech at a seminar organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on how global start-ups succeed in Asia through Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem. VivaTech, to be held from May 22 to 25, is Europe's largest technology and start-up event. It brings together start-ups, technology leaders, large corporations and investors to interact with each other on the challenges of the global technology landscape and accelerate the pace of innovation around the world. During his stay in Europe, Professor Sun will meet with local I&T leaders and technology enterprises, and visit local research institutions and start-up parks. Professor Sun will return to Hong Kong on May 26. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry from May 22 to 24 and on May 26, while the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, will take up the post of the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry on May 25 concurrently.
SITI to visit Beijing
8.5.2024

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, will depart for a visit to Beijing this afternoon (May 8). During his stay in Beijing, Professor Sun will call on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality. Professor Sun will return to Hong Kong on May 10. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.