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The Chief Executive's Commission on Innovation and Technology today (Monday) organised a roundtable workshop to examine the role and functions of different public organisations providing services that support the application, commercialisation or development of technology in Hong Kong.

These organisations are:-

* the universities

* the Vocational Training Council

* the Hong Kong Productivity Council

* the Hong Kong Trade Development Council

* the Hong Kong Industrial Technology Centre

Corporation

* the Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology

* the Hong Kong Industrial Estate Corporation

* the future Hong Kong Science Park

* the future Applied Science and Technology

Research Institute

The workshop was moderated by the Chairman of the Commission, Professor Chang-Lin Tien. Participants included the heads or Chief Executive Officers of the public institutions concerned or their senior representatives, members of the Commission and relevant government officials.

A spokesman for the Commission said, "We had very frank and constructive exchanges of views during the workshop on five areas of service delivered by these public bodies.

"These five areas are physical infrastructure, nurturing technology start-up companies, R&D support, technology transfer and productivity enhancement, and building up human capital.

"Participants emphasised the importance of creating synergy and avoiding duplication of efforts among the institutions.

"Participants made good suggestions on measures to enhance collaboration between specific institutions, and on the delineation of responsibilities among them.

The spokesman said that the views expressed in the workshop were useful and the Commission would take them into consideration in drawing up recommendations for its second and final report.

The Commission was appointed by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, in March last year to advise him on the measures necessary to drive forward innovation and technology upgrading in the manufacturing and service industries of Hong Kong. A specific task for the Commission is to review the institutional arrangements for Hong Kong's technological infrastructure.

The Commission published a first report in October 1998 and plans to complete its task by June 1999.

End/Monday, March 22, 1999

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