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Six members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) visited the Hong Kong Science Park today (December 12) to learn about its latest developments and the technological achievements of research and development (R&D) centres.
They were first briefed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Allen Ma, on the Science Park's developments, including the progress of the Phase 3 development. With the promotion of green technology being a key focus, the three design principles of energy reduction, energy efficiency and energy generation are being applied to every aspect of the building design in Phase 3.
The members were also briefed on the latest technological achievements of two R&D centres.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies (LSCM), Mr Simon Wong, introduced how R&D technologies developed by his centre have been applied in everyday life, such as the E-Lock enabling technology for container cargo transshipment, location-based technologies for asset tracking and risk management for the construction industry and product authentication technologies at retail points.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), Mr Edwin Keh, explained his institute's application of washable radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and 3D smart textile materials for protective apparel in elderly centres. He also introduced a fabric touch tester used for the evaluation of fabric hand feel as well as an imaging colour measurement system that assists in reliable and consistent colour management.
LSCM and HKRITA are among the five R&D centres that were set up in 2006 with the support of the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) to drive and co-ordinate applied R&D in selected focus areas and to promote commercialisation of R&D results.
To enhance the efforts of the Science Park and other institutes in promoting commercialisation of research deliverables, the ITC has been promoting the trial use of R&D centre technologies in government departments and other public sector organisations, such as the E-Lock, which is in use in the Customs and Excise Department; location-based technologies for asset tracking and risk management, which are deployed by the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Hong Kong Construction Industry Council and the construction sector; and washable RFID tags on elderly persons' apparel in elderly centres.
The LegCo members then visited Green 18 in Phase 2, an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building that has been designed to showcase green technologies. They also visited a newly completed building in Phase 3.
The 22-hectare Hong Kong Science Park has been in operation since 2002 and is divided into three construction phases, of which Phases 1 and 2 are already complete. It currently comprises 20 laboratory-fitted buildings offering a gross floor area of 220 000 square metres. Construction of Phase 3 is expected to complete in stages by 2016.
Ends/Thursday, December 12, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:16
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