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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, at the Hong Kong & Guangzhou International Conference on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine: Stem Cell Applications and Regulatory Principles this morning (December 20):
Fanny, Professor Xu, Professor Pei, Professor Lendahl, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. I am pleased to join you today at the Hong Kong and Guangzhou International Conference on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. To our overseas visitors a very warm welcome to Hong Kong.
Stem cell research is now beginning to teach us how to harness, rejuvenate and enhance our body's ability to regenerate after disease and aging.
This knowledge from academic research now holds great promise in the clinic in the form of regenerative medicine.
Innumerable people have already benefited from various stem cell therapies. And this is just the beginning. The true potential of stem cells and regenerative medicine is mostly untapped. Therefore the prospect of this branch of science is exciting.
Over the recent years progress has been made at a breakneck speed. Scientists in China and Hong Kong, as well as Chinese and Hong Kong scientists overseas, are making their fair share of contributions.
Today's conference is among the largest stem-cell conferences ever held in Hong Kong. We are lucky to be able to welcome scientists from all over the world, as well as experts from industry and the investment world. Your diverse interests reflect a flourishing global focus, and fascination, with stem-cell research.
Your presence also underlines Hong Kong's unique role as the "super-connector" between the rest of China and the rest of the world. This role is well accepted in the financial services sector, in trade and logistics, and more recently in professional services. Now we believe we are able to also connect up scientists inside and outside China. We believe we can provide the perfect platform for collaboration among Hong Kong, Mainland Chinese and international scientists in laboratories, in classrooms, in companies and at conferences.
One of the cornerstones of our "super-connector" role is the dual advantages of "one country" and "two systems". When you work with Hong Kong, you are definitely working with China. But Hong Kong offers you so to speak the benefits of practising "the other system".
As part of China, for 10 years now, Hong Kong has been hosting 16 Partner State Key Laboratories. Ten are conducting research in biomedical science. The Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health are also collaborating with local universities on stem-cell and regenerative-medicine research.
Inside Hong Kong, biomedical start-ups in Hong Kong are expanding. Indeed, they have become one of the key players in our biomedical science network.
As for Hong Kong Government, we've been promoting biomedical science on various fronts. Since its establishment, four years ago, our Health and Medical Research Fund has supported 12 projects related to stem-cell research.
These projects address a wide range of health concerns, from cancer and Parkinson's disease, to stroke and cardiovascular conditions. We believe their work will lead to a greater understanding of the basic biology and clinical application of stem cells.
We're also making good progress in clinical trials. Our two medical schools are among the best in the world in clinical medicine. Since early 2014, my Government has also supported the establishment of two phase-one, clinical-trial centres - at Queen Mary Hospital and the Prince of Wales Hospital - to conduct preliminary clinical trials for new drugs.
The Hong Kong Science Park is an important contributor to the development of biomedical science in Hong Kong. Biomedical technology is one of the Science Park's five technology clusters, counting some 80 biomedical companies.
They specialise in a great variety of disciplines in the biotech field, including medical devices and diagnostics, therapeutic and personal care, regenerative medicine and Chinese medicine. The dedicated Incu-Bio Programme for biotech start-ups and the Biotech Support Centre are also in place to support the industry.
In promoting biomedical science, it's not only about research capabilities. A conducive and up-to-date regulatory framework is equally important. On drug safety, we revised the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance earlier this year to align the statutory definition of "pharmaceutical products" with international practices.
From the essential details to the big picture, the point is clear: Hong Kong academia, industry, business and government support stem-cell research and regenerative medicine. For all it's capable of, and for what we believe it can one day realise for society - in preventing and curing disease and injuries, in building businesses, designing advanced technology and, of course, enhancing the quality of life of people.
Conferences such as yours today will certainly help in this regard. For that, I am grateful to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health for organising it. For bringing you here together today with one paramount purpose in mind: to change life, to make it better.
I wish you all a rewarding conference and a successful 2016.
Thank you.
Ends/Sunday, December 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 10:53
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MP4 format