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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, attended a forum today (November 5) to hear first-hand how Hong Kong enterprises harnessed the power of innovation and technology to increase the added value, productivity and competitiveness of their businesses.

At the "Innovation and Technology : Experience Sharing Forum", Mr Tung also shared with participants his vision in turning Hong Kong into a world-class technology-intensive, knowledge-based economy.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Antony Leung, also participated in the Forum, which was organised by The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries with the support of the Council of Advisors on Innovation and Technology.

The forum comprised presentations by six companies on their success stories, followed by an experience sharing session among industrialists, representatives of industry and technology support organisations and university as well as Government officials. The six companies were from different fields covering information technology and communication companies as well as traditional industries like toys and garments.

The Chief Executive noted that in the face of globalisation and rapidly changing technological landscape, Hong Kong must harness the potentials of innovation and technology and enhance the quality of our services to increase our competitiveness.

The Government is committed to improving human capital and nurturing talents to form a strong base of brainpower to support a knowledge economy. The Government is also firmly committed to promoting e-commerce and e-government, protecting intellectual property, and attaches importance to creating an environment for innovation and technology and adoption of information technology.

An important measure in our pursuit of a knowledge-based economy is the plan to make it available within 10 years for 60 per cent of our young people in the relevant age group to receive tertiary education.

In addition, the Government has set up various funding schemes such as the Innovation and Technology Fund and the Applied Research Fund to encourage applied research and development. It has also taken other initiatives such as the Cyberport, Science Park, the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute and its Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine.

Mr Tung said, "I am happy to hear from the entrepreneurs their successful and encouraging experience in innovation and technology development and in upgrading their skills. If our society recognises the importance of innovation and technology and proactively engage in these areas, this will certainly be a strong propelling force for our economy."

The six companies making presentations are: Heatrans Company Limited (focusing on decal transfer technology), Silverlit Toys Manufactory Limited (design and manufacture of electronic interactive toys), TeleEye Holdings Limited (development of remote audio-visual monitoring systems), REALVision Technology Limited (wireless Internet solution provider), Centro Digital Enterprises Limited (digital content producer) and Tristate Holdings Limited (manufacturing of garment).

Mr Tung commended the entrepreneurs in the forum as examples demonstrating Hong Kong people's can-do spirit in meeting opportunities and challenges ahead.

"I firmly believe that their experience in applying and developing innovation and technology serves as valuable reference to different trades and industries for enhancing competitiveness.

"Their foresight, eagerness to learn, their persistence to moving forward as well as their dedication in striving for the best are key to success for all of us faced with the challenge arising from the knowledge-based globalised economy in the 21st Century," he said.

The Secretary for Commerce and Industry, Mr Chau Tak Hay; Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau; Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Francis Ho; and Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Joshua Law, also attended the forum.

End/Monday, November 5, 2001

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• Photo 1: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, took part in the "Innovation and Technology: Experience Sharing Forum" with a group of industrialists and representatives of Research and Development or service agencies to look into the opportunities and challenges the industries might encounter as Hong Kong evolves into a knowledge-based economy. Picture shows Mr Tung giving his remarks at the Forum.
  
  
• Photo 2: Picture shows Mr Tung listening to the presentations by participating firms on their products and achievements.