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Following is a speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, at the Opening Ceremony of the Asian-Oceania Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) ICT Summit 2008 today (December 10):
Mr (Richard) Li, Mr (CS) Ng, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning! I am delighted to be here to deliver the opening address for the Asian-Oceania Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) ICT Summit 2008. I am particularly pleased to see so many of you have come to Hong Kong for this Summit.
First of all, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, I would like to welcome all ASOCIO delegates and participants to Hong Kong. With just two weeks to Christmas, you might have noticed that the Christmas lights on buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour have been switched on in time to greet you. I would also like to congratulate the Information and Software Industry Association for successfully organising the ASOCIO ICT Summit 2008. The annual ASOCIO ICT Summit is one of the region’s most influential IT forums, providing a platform for the sharing of information, opportunities to develop closer relationships and, most importantly, an environment in which new business opportunities can be developed. With ASOCIO approaching its 25th year, its importance and contribution to the vigorous development of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in Asia and Oceania region is considerable.
ICT has become an essential aspect of our life indeed. For many, it is both a tool and a plaything, a means of communication as well as a source of amusement. In other words this is now firmly integrated into almost every aspect of a modern lifestyle. Hong Kong has made great strides over the years in adopting, developing and implementing ICT applications, which serve to bring more convenient and user-friendly services to the community, and at the same time generate huge potential for moving business and production up the value-chain, enabling business to achieve higher productivity and profits.
To strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a leading digital city and to ensure technology and innovation will continue to play a key role in helping Hong Kong to advance and seize new opportunities, the HKSAR Government has developed the “Digital 21 Strategy” as a blueprint for the future development of ICT of Hong Kong. In the latest 2008 edition, we have identified five action areas for implementation. They are:
- Facilitating a digital economy;
- Promoting advanced technology and innovation;
- Developing Hong Kong as a hub for technological co-operation and trade;
- Enabling the next generation of public services; and
- Building an inclusive, knowledge-based society.
Today I would like to touch on some of the measures we will adopt to promote advanced technology and innovation as we develop as a hub for technological co-operation and trade.
Cyberport and the Hong Kong Science Park together are our technology flagships, providing the infrastructure for the development of advanced technology and innovation. They serve as hubs bringing together a strategic cluster of high-tech companies and professional talent in an environment supremely suited to the development, application and commercialisation of new technology. In addition to those key sites, more than $2 billion has been earmarked under the Innovation and Technology Fund to set up five R&D Centres, all of which exploit applications of ICT. The focus of these centres include logistics and supply-chain-related technologies such as Electronic Product Code (EPC) and Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), communications technologies, consumer electronics, optoelectronics, nanotechnology and advanced materials. To encourage private sector participation and to facilitate commercialisation, the Centres adopt a flexible approach to allow industry sponsors with significant contributions to own the intellectual property rights of the projects that emerge from the research carried out.
Being an international trading and financial centre with the unique advantage of having the Mainland as our hinterland, Hong Kong is well placed to serve as a hub for technological co-operation and trade in high-tech products and services. Hong Kong also possesses excellent professional and financial services, stringent intellectual property rights protection in an environment in which technological businesses and trading entities can thrive. The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) further enhances our position as gateway for overseas technology providers to tap into the Mainland market.
To strengthen Hong Kong’s edge as a conduit to the Mainland market, the HKSAR Government has established channels for co-operation with the relevant Mainland authorities and Guangdong Province in areas of innovation, technological development and informatisation. Examples are the Guangdong/Hong Kong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme and the“Shenzhen – Hong Kong Innovation Circle”. The Guangdong/Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme provides financial support for R&D projects in technology areas of common interest, with a view to facilitating industry upgrading and economic development in the Greater Pearl River Delta Region. The “Shenzhen – Hong Kong Innovation Circle” serves as a platform for exchanges in expertise, information and resources to promote collaboration between R&D institutions. A major technology co-operation project under the “Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle” was launched in May to establish a Solar Energy Research and Industrial Platform in collaboration with DuPont, an internationally known chemical and new materials company. Under the project, a Solar Energy R&D Support Centre will be established at the Hong Kong Science Park to assist the development of solar energy and related technologies in Hong Kong and the PRD region. DuPont will join the centre as the first tenant by locating its Global Thin Film Photovoltaic Business and R&D Centre in the park. At the same time, the Shenzhen Municipal Government will collaborate with Hong Kong to provide land and other facilities to support the downstream development and manufacturing of solar energy products.
The theme of this year’s Summit is “Asia Oceania’s Emerging Role in the Global Digital Creative Economy”. In this area, I am proud to say that Hong Kong does quite well, especially in the digital entertainment field. We have a solid industrial base and a ready pool of creative talent in film production, broadcasting and advertising. You might remember the spectacular special effects in recent films such as “Shaolin Soccer”, “Initial D”; and Computer Graphics (CG) animated movies such as “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, “Shrek” and the “Mcdull Series”. Not many people realise that these are all from Hong Kong-based people and companies. To spearhead further development in this area, the Government has sponsored the establishment of industry support centres at Cyberport, including the Digital Entertainment Incubation-and-Training Centre and the Digital Media Centre. We have also announced the establishment of a new co-ordination office to further facilitate the development of the creative industries.
To develop Hong Kong as a leading world digital city, the Government will continue its commitment to support technology and innovation in Hong Kong. In 2008-09, we estimate the IT expenditure by the Government alone will be around $5.5 billion. We will continue to cooperate with the ICT industry players, professionals and academics to strive for a “digital future” for Hong Kong with a view to enriching our quality of life and enhancing economic growth.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you are eager to hear what our distinguished speakers are going to tell us about our emerging roles in the Global Digital Creative Economy. May I wish you a rewarding experience with this year’s summit and enjoy your stay in Hong Kong.
Thank you.
Ends/Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:01
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