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Chief Executive Mr Tung Chee Hwa has today (Friday, HK time) taken his vision for high-tech Hong Kong to Silicon Valley, the cradle of American innovation and technology.
Speaking to about 800 lunch guests from many of the world's biggest and best known information technology companies, Mr Tung said he and Hong Kong SAR officials could not help but feel inspired by the sheer magnitude of creative energy which had made Silicon Valley the heartland of high-tech.
"That is one of the main reasons my colleagues and I are here today - to look, listen and learn," Mr Tung said.
"Another is to let you know what we have been doing in Hong Kong to try to emulate some of your success.
"We have our own vision - and that is to make Hong Kong the hub of innovation and technology in Asia, and particularly for China.
"The policies and programmes we are now vigorously pursuing - and I stress vigorously - will help shape a better future for us all in Hong Kong."
Mr Tung said that he had always believed innovation and technology were crucial drivers of economic growth and expansion and the principal means to improve efficiency and productivity, add value and enhance overall competitiveness.
"In short, innovation and technology are the blueprints for building our future," he said.
"I believe government has an important role to play in creating the right environment for innovation and technology to develop and flourish. And this is what we are doing now.
"However, the ultimate success of our endeavours to facilitate, encourage, nurture and export home-grown technology will depend largely on private sector involvement and the determination and courage of young entrepreneurs to turn good ideas into popular, commercially viable products."
Mr Tung outlined initiatives which would help Hong Kong stamp its mark on the IT scene in the early years of the next century.
These included the Cyberport project at Pok Fu Lam, a satellite 'teleport' at Chung Hom Kok, a Science Park at Tai Po and the commercial application of Chinese medicine.
Other important moves would be the setting up of an Applied Science and Technology Research Institute to bridge the gap between academics, entrepreneurs and industry and a HK$5 billion (US$640 million) Innovation and Technology Fund to finance projects which will contribute to innovation and technological upgrading of Hong Kong's manufacturing and service industries.
Mr Tung also explained the government's push to kick-start the uptake of e-commerce in Hong Kong through the Electronic Government Service Delivery programme and associated projects such as secure public key infrastructure and the development of a common, Chinese language interface.
"We shall develop a clear legal framework to enhance certainty in the conduct of electronic transactions. All of these initiatives we hope will pump-prime the development of e-commerce in Hong Kong," he said.
"In addition, our excellent telecommunications infrastructure, our bilingual language capability and our unique position as a Special Administrative Region of China give us an unparalleled advantage to serve as an information gateway to the Mainland, and to develop a role as an Internet traffic and content hub for the Asia-Pacific region."
Mr Tung said the initiatives were not 'stand alones' but part of a strategic, long-term vision to complement and enhance Hong Kong's traditional strengths in financial services, banking, communications, tourism and transport.
"They will add a new dimension to our economic base and, in the long-run, boost our competitiveness and attractiveness as an international business centre," he said.
Photos
Photo 1:The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, is greeted by Mr Gary Daichendt, Cisco Systems' executive vice president for worldwide operators during a visit to the leading Internet technology company in Silicon Valley.
Photo 2:The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, is welcomed to Silicon Valley by one of the world's best-known Internet entrepreneurs, Mr Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo!
End/Friday, July 23, 1999
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