HK urged to become regional science hub

Hong Kong should develop into a regional hub for scientific research, services and synergy in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a deputy liaison chief in Hong Kong said on Monday.

Tan Tieniu, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, also urged Hong Kong to create a roadmap for the city’s innovation and technology (I&T) development.

He said Hong Kong should outline detailed plans and achievable goals, and coordinate available resources inside and outside the city.

Tan, former vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made the remarks at the “Hong Kong’s New Position” forum, organized by the Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ and Exporters’ Association.

Hong Kong should outline detailed plans and achievable goals, and coordinate available resources inside and outside the city.” Tan Tieniu, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR

He said the city’s role as science services hub is to provide I&T industry with professional services, like intellectual property protection, while the role as science synergy hub is to coordinate and optimize resources within the region.

He said the Greater Bay Area is one of the world’s best regions for I&T industry growth. Hong Kong’s prospects are closely connected to it as it provides a complete ecosystem for I&T industry, Tan stressed.

A complete ecosystem for I&T should comprise four elements — science research, technology development, products and markets — Tan said.

Hong Kong enjoys the fruits of many scientific endeavors and could take advantage of Shenzhen’s ability to turn research results into products, Tan elaborated. He noted that Hong Kong could finally sell such products to markets within the bay area.

Agreeing with Tan, ViceChairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying said Hong Kong would become more attractive to foreign investment due to increasing connectivity with the mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area.

Also giving a speech at the forum, the former chief executive referred to the three important linkages that are expected to go into service next year. They are the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the 26-kilometer Hong Kong section of the Express Rail Link connecting Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point.