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The eighth meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee was held in Xian today (August 30).
The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, and the Vice-Minister of Science and Technology of the Central People's Government, Dr Cao Jianlin. After the meeting, both sides signed the "Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee Agreement".
Mr So said, "The Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee was set up under the 'Agreement on the Establishment of the Mainland and Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee' signed by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in May 2004 to formulate and co-ordinate technological exchange and co-operation between the two sides. The agreement runs for a term of 10 years and is due to expire soon. This renewal of the agreement will enable the Mainland and the HKSAR Government to continue to strengthen the technological exchange and co-operation between the two sides under the framework of the Committee."
He added, "The National 12th Five-Year Plan has just entered the stage of interim review. The policy measures announced by the Central Government under the Plan for supporting Hong Kong's development in innovation and technology are progressing well. The major achievements in the past year include MOST granting approval on July 1 for the establishment of four new Partner State Key Laboratories (PSKLs) by Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Hong Kong respectively; having a total of four projects under the 'National Basic Research Program of China' (973 Program) undertaken by Hong Kong universities directly through their Mainland subsidiaries; and the official unveiling of the commemorative plaque of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Base in June."
Starting from the 2013-14 financial year, the HKSAR Government has increased the funding support for each PSKL in Hong Kong from a maximum of $2 million each year to $5 million each year until the 2015-16 financial year to enhance support for the sustainable development of the PSKLs and promote scientific research collaboration in key related areas between the two sides. The four newly established PSKLs also benefit from the HKSAR Government's funding support. In addition, the HKSAR Government is providing funding of up to $15 million to each Hong Kong branch of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre (CNERC) for a period of three years starting from the 2013-14 financial year to enhance their capability in undertaking applied research projects and strengthen their co-operation with Mainland partners.
Under the framework of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee, both sides will actively embark on the selection exercise for universities and research and development (R&D) centres in Hong Kong applying for the status of Hong Kong branches of the CNERC, and will start the preparatory work on the first round of reassessment, which is targeted to be launched in 2015-16, for the 12 PSKLs set up in 2010 or earlier. Both sides will also recommend more newly established National High-tech Industrialisation (Partner) Bases.
Mainland members attending the meeting came from MOST, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Science and Technology Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, and the Science and Technology Department of Shaanxi Province.
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, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, 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 R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, and the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited.
Ends/Friday, August 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:36
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