CE visits Cyberport and Smart-Space 8
22.2.2019

The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, visited Cyberport in Southern District and Smart-Space 8, a co-working space operated by Cyberport in Tsuen Wan District this afternoon (February 22). Mrs Lam and Mr Yang started the visit at Cyberport where they received a briefing by the Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Dr George Lam, on Cyberport's latest developments, including its thriving innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, assistance provided for start-ups, measures to advance the development of the I&T industry and promotion work overseas. They visited the Smart Space Fintech which was opened in 2016 featuring facilities including an information lab, FinTech Service corners and training rooms. It serves as operational bases for start-ups and provides them with training and exchange opportunities. They also visited an area on smart living and received a briefing by the start-ups in Cyberport on their products. Mrs Lam and Mr Yang then went to Smart-Space 8, a co-working space operated by Cyberport in Tsuen Wan District. Smart-Space 8 was jointly set up by HKR International and Cyperport under the Space Sharing Scheme for Youth in July last year. It is Cyperport’s first co-working space located outside its Pok Fu Lam campus to provide support services to young entrepreneurs. During the visit, Mrs Lam, Mr Yang and the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of HKR International, Mr Victor Cha, chatted with a number of young start-up entrepreneurs to learn more about their business visions, stories and user experience in the co-working space. "I&T is a priority policy area of the current-term Government which has devoted significant resources to strengthening Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem and stimulating research and development activities. I am pleased that Cyberport, with the additional resources from the Government, has provided more comprehensive support for start-ups to assist young entrepreneurs to realise their dreams. In the exchange session with the young entrepreneurs just now, I was impressed by their limitless creativity, determination to set up their own businesses and aspirations for career development, boosting my confidence in the future of Hong Kong," Mrs Lam said. Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem has been gaining momentum in recent years. There were 2 625 start-ups operating in major public and private co-working spaces and incubators in 2018, up 18 per cent from 2 229 in 2017. Together these start-ups employed 9 548 people, a 51 per cent rise over 6 320 in 2017. "The Central Government promulgated the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area a few days ago. This key development strategy of the country will bring immense opportunities to Hong Kong. One of the focuses of the Outline Development Plan is the establishment of an international I&T hub in the Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong will proactively strengthen its own I&T capabilities and leverage the support policies in the Outline Development Plan to set up an international I&T hub in the Greater Bay Area, identifying new areas of growth for Hong Kong and opening up more development opportunities for young people," Mrs Lam said. Ends/Friday, February 22, 2019 Issued at HKT 22:41 NNNN