***********************************************************
The fifth meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee was held in Hong Kong today (October 27).
The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, and the Vice-Minister of Science and Technology of the Central People's Government, Mr Cao Jianlin. The two sides discussed the progress of work since the fourth meeting, approved Committee's work plan for the next year, and explored reinforcing Mainland/Hong Kong science and technology co-operation on various fronts to dovetail with the Mainland's 12th Five-Year Plan.
The two sides agreed to explore further trade facilitation measures through the provisions of the Mainland/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) VII and other appropriate measures. They also agreed to encourage Hong Kong's research personnel and institutes to participate in national science and technology programmes with a view to progressively involving Hong Kong research institutes and enterprises in the national innovation system.
The meeting noted that the national Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has approved 12 Partner State Key Laboratories (SKLs) operated by Hong Kong universities, and the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) Government is planning to provide these Partner SKLs with financial assistance through the Innovation and Technology Fund.
On further enhancing collaboration on science and technology between Hong Kong and Guangdong, the HKSAR Government will work with its Guangdong and Shenzhen counterparts to implement the objectives and measures stated in the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation to promote collaboration on a regional basis. These include the continuous effort to promote the development of innovation and technology products under the Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme and to encourage commercialisation of their technological achievements.
Moreover, Shenzhen and Hong Kong will continue to work closely to take forward the projects under the Three Year Action Plan of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle.
The Committee also proposed to reinforce Mainland-Hong Kong science and technology co-operation on all fronts to dovetail with the Mainland's 12th Five-Year Plan, and acknowledged the importance of creating a win-win situation to enhance science, technology and economic development on the two sides by combining the strengths of Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Lau said the Chief Executive had set out in the Policy Agenda of his Policy Address a new initiative on "providing financial assistance to Partner State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong to enhance their research capability". She said, "I look forward earnestly to the further enhancement of the research capability of our Partner State Key Laboratories under this new initiative, and the transfer of science and technology achievements to industry, with a view to creating wealth for enterprises and promoting economic and social development."
She welcomed the representatives of Hong Kong universities and technology institutes who have joined the Committee as new members. It will further improve the co-ordination mechanism for technology collaboration between the two sides. "I believe their participation in the Committee will enrich and bring about insightful discussion, and promote mutual collaboration among government, industry, academia and research institutions," she added.
Mrs Lau said she hoped that the Mainland and Hong Kong could build on the existing sound foundation to further enhance exchanges of technology between industries, as well as to strengthen innovation and technology co-operation between the two places.
Mainland members attending the meeting came from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Science, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR, the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province and the Science and Technology, Industry, Trade and Information Committee of Shenzhen.
The Hong Kong side comprised representatives from the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the University Grants Committee, the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Hong Kong Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R&D Centre, the Hong Kong Research and Development Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies, the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine.
Ends/Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:57
NNNN
