Hong Kong I&T Strives Ahead forum to mark anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to Hong Kong Science Park and celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR concludes successfully

(Hong Kong, 30 June 2023) – To mark the anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to the Hong Kong Science Park and celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) co-organised the Hong Kong I&T Strives Ahead thematic forum with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre at the Hong Kong Science Park today (June 30). The event aimed at uniting the local innovation and technology (I&T) visionaries, carrying on the past successes to the future and opening a new chapter for the country's I&T development.

As one of the celebration events of the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, the event today was honoured with the presence of the Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Dr Wang Weiming, sharing the spirit of the speech delivered by President Xi and promoting the responsibility and mission of rejuvenating Hong Kong and the country through I&T development.

Speaking at the event, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said that the 14th Five-Year Plan expressed full support for developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre that endowed the city with a new position and mission. He added that President Xi's visit to the Hong Kong Science Park this day last year fully demonstrated the importance of and aspirations on Hong Kong's I&T development.

Professor Sun said that the Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating Cross-boundary Data Flow Within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area he had signed on behalf of the HKSAR Government with the Cyberspace Administration of China in Beijing yesterday (June 29) fosters the cross-boundary flow of mainland data within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and promotes high-quality development of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

The Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr Sunny Chai, said that it was a meaningful day today as it marked the anniversary of President Xi's visit to the Hong Kong Science Park. In the past year, the HKSTP has been attracting talent, enterprises and investments. It has built up Hong Kong's largest research and development community of about 20 000 people, with companies raising funds of approximately $780 million this year. More than 430 start-ups from 21 economies have also completed incubation programmes in 2023.

With the staunch support from the country, the HKSAR Government strives to enhance the I&T ecosystem and promote development of the industry in terms of infrastructure, capital, talent and scientific research by progressively implementing the directions and strategies set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint. In addition to showcasing the fruitful results accomplished by the current-term Government in promoting I&T development, the event also commended outstanding achievements in the Mainland and overseas by local I&T talent, including renowned individual awards and invention prizes. Furthermore, a panel of local academic and technology leaders, including the Vice-chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Chairman of the Research Grants Council, Professor Wong Yuk-shan; the President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Nancy Ip; the Chief Executive Officer of the HKSTP, Mr Albert Wong; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan, shared their incisive insights into the latest I&T topics and development trends at the forum, in order to draw on collective wisdom and start a new chapter for I&T in Hong Kong

Please click the following link to watch the video of top 10 Hong Kong I&T achievements in the past year: https://bit.ly/3CXmCdi

Photo 2: Hong Kong I&T Strives Ahead forum to mark the anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to the Hong Kong Science Park and celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was concluded successfully today (June 30). Photo shows the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (front row, 10th right); the Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Wang Weiming (front row, 10th left); the Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Dr Sunny Chai (front row, ninth right); the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Eddie Mak (front row, sixth right); the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong (front row, fourth right); the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee (front row, fourth left); and the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong (front row, seventh left), with the awardees and other guests.

Photo 3: Hong Kong I&T Strives Ahead forum to mark the anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to the Hong Kong Science Park and celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was concluded successfully today (June 30). Photo shows the Vice-chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Chairman of the Research Grants Council, Professor Wong Yuk-shan (centre); the President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Nancy Ip (second right); the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong (second left); the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan (first right); and forum moderator, President of Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, Mr Hsu Hoi-shan (first left), sharing their incisive insights into the latest I&T issues and development trends at the forum.