Speech by CS at 2021-22 Hong Kong Awards for Industries Awards Presentation Ceremony (English only) (with photos/video)
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Professor Kuo (Chairman of the Final Judging Panels of the 2021-22 Hong Kong Awards for Industries, Professor Way Kuo), award winners, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. I am delighted to be here at Science Park today to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all winners of the 2021-22 Hong Kong Awards for Industries. The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of our enterprises in a wide range of areas, including product and machinery design, customer service, innovation, technological advancement, and business upgrading.
While celebrating the winners' achievements, we are fully aware of the challenges faced by Hong Kong's industries and enterprises in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions in recent years.
In particular, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of innovation and technology (I&T). With the strong support from the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is set to develop into an international I&T hub. I&T development is set to be a key impetus to the growth of the city's economy.
In his first Policy Address delivered last month, the Chief Executive announced the Government's plan to roll out within this year a Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint. This holistic blueprint will map out the major strategies to drive the city's I&T development from a top-level planning perspective.
For one thing, we will strengthen efforts to foster re-industrialisation and support Hong Kong's industries to develop advanced manufacturing with new technologies. We will set up a Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme to drive commercialisation of R&D outcomes. We will also create the post of Commissioner for Industry, who will be dedicated to steering re-industrialisation strategies and helping manufacturing enterprises upgrade and transform themselves through I&T.
To strengthen the Government's institutional set-up, I will lead a dedicated Talents Service Unit to compete for talent from the Mainland and overseas, while the Financial Secretary will lead a dedicated Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises with a focus on fields like advanced manufacturing and health technology.
As for I&T, special facilitation measures will be provided, in a targeted manner, to attract top-notch talent to bring with them their businesses or R&D outcomes to Hong Kong. To provide more accommodation facilities for I&T talent, we will explore setting up a new InnoCell near Science Park.
Looking at the general business landscape, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for over 98 per cent of Hong Kong's business establishments. We are well aware of the need to support their business development to underpin the city's economic growth.
We have, therefore, introduced enhancement measures for our two funding initiatives, namely the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales, and the SME Export Marketing Fund, to encourage SMEs to explore more diversified markets. The cumulative funding ceilings per enterprise will be raised from $6 million to $7 million, and from $0.8 million to $1 million, respectively. Also, for the SME Export Marketing Fund, the prevailing expanded funding scope as a special measure, covering exhibitions and online exhibitions that target the local market, will be extended to end June 2026.
All the new initiatives I have just mentioned, and many other existing ones of the Government, will strengthen Hong Kong's prime role as an international trade centre and enable the city to develop into an international I&T centre. In turn, Hong Kong can better integrate herself into the national developments of our motherland, seize new opportunities, and make new contributions.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am glad to know that the winning entries today have not just addressed present-day needs, but will also bring long-term impact to society's well-being. As Hong Kong is advancing from stability to prosperity, I am confident that the city's industrialists and entrepreneurs, including the award winners this year, will join with the Government in writing and telling more success stories of Hong Kong.
On this note, my heartfelt congratulations, once again, to all the award winners. My gratitude also goes to the organising committee, the six organisers, and the final judging panels, for making this event a great success. Thank you very much and have a nice day.
Ends/Monday, November 28, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:08
Issued at HKT 18:08
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CS attends 2021-22 Hong Kong Awards for Industries Awards Presentation Ceremony