The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (June 20) started his visit to Beijing.

     This morning, Mr Chan first attended the opening ceremony of the Youth Internship Programme at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chatted with university students participating in the programme, before visiting the Academy's Institute of Automation.

     He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been allocating substantial resources to develop innovation and technology (I&T) into a new driver of economic growth. He thanked the Chinese Academy of Sciences for offering young people of Hong Kong valuable internship experience and an opportunity to learn, work and research under the guidance of the country's top scientific experts.

     Organised by the Home Affairs Bureau, the Programme aims to nurture students' interest in I&T and deepen their understanding of the country's latest technological developments.

     Later, Mr Chan called on the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming, and had lunch with him. Mr Chan updated him the latest developments of the Hong Kong economy. Both parties also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.

     In the afternoon, Mr Chan met with the Minister of Science and Technology of the Central People's Government, Mr Wang Zhigang, to express his gratitude to the Ministry's support to the development of I&T in Hong Kong, particularly in opening up science and technology funding of the Central Government for application by higher education institutions and research institutions in Hong Kong, to further enhance the role of the Hong Kong technology sector in promoting national technological advancement.

     He said that over $50 billion has been set aside in the 2018-19 Budget to support Hong Kong's I&T development, with a focus on the four key areas of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, smart city and financial technologies. Of this, $20 billion will be used for the first phase of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

     Later, Mr Chan had a meeting with the President of the China Investment Corporation, Mr Tu Guangshao. Tomorrow (June 21), he will continue his visit in Beijing.

Ends/Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:15

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