CE targets priority areas for economic development
6.10.2021

Unveiling her annual Policy Address today (October 6), the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, highlighted the Government's plans to boost Hong Kong's competitiveness as the eight international centres or hubs charted in the 14th Five-Year Plan, leveraging the Central Government's support with a view to building a brighter future for Hong Kong. The Central Government supports Hong Kong's development as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. Mrs Lam said the Government has invested more than $130 billion in I&T development over the past four years, which includes setting up two InnoHK research clusters by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC). The research clusters have attracted world-class universities and research institutes to collaborate with local universities. "I now propose the setting up of an InnoLife Healthtech Hub in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) in the Loop," the Chief Executive said. The HSITP and areas around Lok Ma Chau/San Tin will become the San Tin Technopole. That, together with the Shenzhen I&T zone, will form the Shenzhen-Hong Kong I&T Co-operation Zone. Mrs Lam said that the resulting 540-hectare site will combine the strengths of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, powering the development of an international I&T hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Chief Executive also proposed further expanding the capacity at the Hong Kong Science Park, which is home to about 900 technology enterprises and start-ups. The expansion, Mrs Lam said, would involve providing an additional 88 hectares of land, largely for I&T development. Mrs Lam also said consideration would be given to constructing a new Science Park/Pak Shek Kok Station on the East Rail Line at the current site of the Hong Kong Education University Sports Centre at Pak Shek Kok. The Sports Centre would be relocated close to the University's main campus. The Advanced Manufacturing Centre at the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate and the Microelectronics Centre at the Yuen Long Industrial Estate will be completed in 2022 and 2023 respectively. "The good industry response to these two facilities indicates that many enterprises share the view that high value-added and technology-intensive manufacturing processes and production lines can be set up in Hong Kong," Mrs Lam said. "In view of this, I have invited the HKSTPC to start planning for the construction of the second Advanced Manufacturing Centre." The Chief Executive said that the Government has accepted, in principle, proposals to provide land for research use to the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). That includes a 4-hectare site at Pok Fu Lam to construct HKU facilities for deep technology research, and 2.5 hectares near the CUHK Medical Centre to build research facilities and expand the Medical Centre. Mrs Lam said she also supported the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)'s interest in using the Hung Hom Bay Campus for academic and research development. The Chief Executive noted that Hong Kong universities have established close collaborative relationships with Mainland research institutions over the years. "For instance, we are all proud of the fact that some of the instruments currently used on the Moon and Mars were developed by PolyU, which has actively participated in our nation's space exploration projects," she said. Alongside I&T, the Chief Executive said the Government would step up its efforts in the following economic areas: enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, as well as an international transportation centre and an international trade centre; consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub; developing Hong Kong into an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region; developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange; and developing Hong Kong into a regional intellectual property trading centre. Since the implementation of the National Security Law and improvements to the electoral system, safety and stability have returned, the Chief Executive said. "Hong Kong is now ready again for a new start for economic development," she said. Ends/Wednesday, October 6, 2021 Issued at HKT 13:42 NNNN