The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, today (October 8) met with representatives of the Technology and Innovation Subsector of the Election Committee, the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians, the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences and the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences respectively to elaborate on the innovation and technology (I&T) initiatives outlined in "The Chief Executive's 2021 Policy Address".
           
     This year's Policy Address has earmarked several sites for I&T uses. These include:
      
* Under the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HKSITP) in the Loop and the areas around Lok Ma Chau/San Tin will be consolidated to form the San Tin Technopole, where land for I&T-related uses is estimated to amount to about 240 hectares. This, together with the Shenzhen I&T zone, will form the Shenzhen-Hong Kong I&T Co-operation Zone of approximately 540 hectares, and become an essential propeller for the development of an international I&T hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA);
      
* Reviving the Ma Liu Shui reclamation project and vacating the site of the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works and providing a total of 88 hectares of new land mainly for I&T development;
      
* Setting aside about 5 hectares of land in Lau Fau Shan to build landmark I&T facilities with a scale comparable to that of Cyberport to facilitate the deepening co-operation with the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone; and
      
* Reserving a 4-hectare site for the University of Hong Kong and a 2.5-hectare site for the Chinese University of Hong Kong for research use.
      
     Mr Sit said that the Central Government supports Hong Kong's development as an international I&T hub. The Policy Address has put forward a number of I&T initiatives that are forward-looking and groundbreaking, including forming a spatial framework of "Twin Cities, Three Circles" to expedite Hong Kong's I&T development and seize the opportunities arising from the development of the GBA and the integration into the overall development of the country, and develop Hong Kong into an international I&T hub as promulgated in the 14th Five-Year Plan.
      
     "We propose the setting up of an InnoLife Healthtech Hub in the HKSITP in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, with the 16 life and health-related laboratories in the InnoHK research clusters and the eight State Key Laboratories in life and health disciplines as the basis, to focus on related research work. This is a good illustration of Hong Kong's advantages and strengths in scientific research. Hong Kong has a solid foundation in scientific research and a good number of world‑renowned experts, with clinical data and clinical trials being well recognised. We have the capabilities to give full play to our unique strengths and contribute to building a pool of talents for the GBA.
      
     "In the past two years, Hong Kong has encountered many challenges. As we have restored safety and stability in society and improved the electoral system, Hong Kong is now facing a new paradigm and a new future. It is time for us to strive ahead with renewed perseverance and plan for the future and build a bright future together so that we can better utilise the strengths of Hong Kong and contribute to meeting the needs of the country," Mr Sit added.

Ends/Friday, October 8, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:48

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