The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, visited Southern District this afternoon (October 26) to be provided with the latest update on the development of start-ups and the local arts industry and to meet with members of the Southern District Council.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Southern District Council, Mr Chu Ching-hong, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Dr George Lam, Mr Cheung visited Cyberport to be briefed on the financial and professional support provided to start-ups at different stages of their development. This includes funding start-ups to turn innovative ideas into prototypes and physical products, and assisting them in formulating marketing plans, raising funds and exploring local and overseas markets through its incubation programme and accelerator support programmes.

     Mr Cheung said he was pleased to note that the number of Cyberport's digital community members has surpassed 900, including those on-site and off-site. Cyberport has so far incubated over 300 start-ups, including those he visited. Following the opening of Smart-Space FinTech, Cyberport has grown to be a leading FinTech cluster, housing more than 200 FinTech start-ups. Cyberport will continue to identify more start-ups with potential and capacity, and assist them through comprehensive financial, technical and business support offered by its incubation programme and other measures.

     Mr Cheung then visited studios of local artists at ADC Artspace in Wong Chuk Hang to be updated on the development of the local arts sector. ADC Artspace is an arts space project subsidised by the Government and operated by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) with an aim of providing arts space for visual artists and media artists at concessionary rent. A variety of artworks are created in the studios, such as pottery, sculpture and painting.

     Mr Cheung said that the Government and the HKADC will continue to identify venues suitable for conversion into arts space for use by young local artists in order to support their creative work.

     Later, he visited the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Jockey Club Social Innovation Centre to understand how the Centre helps drive youths’ inspiration for innovation and entrepreneurship through the provision of co-working space, training and incubation programmes. In addition to providing office facilities, the Centre also helps social innovation enterprises and youth start-ups expand their networks, identifies suitable investors and organises events and workshops to promote social innovation.

     He encouraged the Centre to continue to help the younger generation to propel society forward through innovation and technology so as to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness.

     Before the visit concluded, Mr Cheung met with members of the Southern District Council to listen to their views and have in-depth exchanges on matters that are of concern to the district.

Ends/Thursday, October 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:06

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