Speech by CE at opening ceremony of Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2024 (with photos/video)

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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and the Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2024 (April 13):

劉光源副主任（中央人民政府駐香港特別行政區聯絡辦公室副主任）、李永勝署理特派員（中華人民共和國外交部駐香港特別行政區特派員公署署理特派員）、李然會長（香港北京高校校友聯盟會長）、各位來自世界各地的知名學者、各位企業代表、各位嘉賓、各位朋友：

　　大家下午好！我很高興在這個春暖花開的日子，出席首屆「香港世界青年科學大會」，同時為「香江諾貝論壇」展開序幕。

　　今天的盛會，有來自世界各地的一共六位諾貝爾獎得主、一位圖靈獎得主、多位國際著名的科學家，加上來自北京、天津、河北等地的優秀創科企業代表，以及幾百位創科青年雲集香港。我謹代表特區政府向各位來自海內外的創科界的專家、學者和代表，表示熱烈歡迎！

　　接下來，我想先用英語歡迎我們來自海外的客人。

     I would like to turn to our English-speaking friends now.

     I am delighted to see that today's event has brought together six Nobel Laureates, one Turing Laureate, and some 20 internationally renowned academics and scientists from around the world.

     Your research expertise covers an inspiring range, from astronomy, neuroscience and medicine, to electrodynamics, computer science and quantum mechanics, and a great deal more. Your contributions are invaluable to humanity and the world. We look forward to your insights at today's conference, and your inspiration to our future generation of scientists.

     The Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to Hong Kong's rise as an international innovation and technology centre. We have devoted significant resources to such areas as AI (artificial intelligence) and big data, biotech, the medical sciences and new materials.

     That investment continues to expand, and in far-reaching ways. This year, we are launching a 1.3 billion-US-Dollar New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme. Companies engaged in life and health technology, AI, data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy technology may receive funding support from the Government, for as much as 26 million US dollars, on a matching basis. And those companies taking part may also receive subsidies for research talents.

     We expect the Scheme will attract some 100 companies, investing at least 2.6 billion US dollars in Hong Kong.

     Our startup sector last year, let me add, exceeded 4,200 companies. That's up 34 per cent over just four years ago. About 26 per cent of our startups came from abroad.

     And it's not just startups we are bringing to Hong Kong. In the past 15 months or so, we have attracted some 50 high-tech companies to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong.

     These high-tech firms are creating some 13,000 jobs in our city over the next few years. They're also bringing in over five billion US dollars in investment to our economy.

     Hong Kong's diverse pool of talent will help to sustain the rapid growth in our I&T (innovation and technology) scene, I'm pleased to add. It helps that Hong Kong is the only Asian city with as many as five universities in the world's top 100. According to a latest survey, Hong Kong houses some of the world's top 10 schools for the studies of dentistry, nursing, education, data science and AI in our various universities. Our world-class universities help to train our excellent researchers and multi-talented workforce.

     I'm just touching on a few of the many initiatives and promising areas we're fully invested in. The point, ladies and gentlemen, is that I&T is central to Hong Kong's future. And I am delighted that today's event is connecting so many world-class scientists and innovators.

     Science and technology aside, find good time to enjoy the arts, culture and fabulous food everywhere you turn in Hong Kong – the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. And do not forget to spend some good money here as well!

     I know you will enjoy today's events, and I wish you the best of business, science and innovation in the year to come.

     Now allow me to switch back to Chinese.

　　今天這場創科盛事，是香港特區政府和香港貿易發展局主辦的「國際創科營商周」活動之一。我感謝「香港北京高校校友聯盟」，聯同多所院校和協辦單位，舉辦本次活動。

　　特區政府全力打造國際一流開放合作平台，推動香港與世界各地的「政、產、學、研」界別互相交流，提升香港在國際上科學研究、創新創業等領域的地位。

　　香港在「一國兩制」下享有「背靠祖國、聯通世界」的獨特優勢，擁有世界級的科研人才和設施、與國際接軌的法律和監管制度、完善的知識產權保護。香港是亞洲唯一擁有多達五所全球百強大學的城市，培育大量優秀人才。這些多不勝數的優勢，都是香港的競爭力所在，一直成功吸引世界各地的人才和企業來港發展。

　　特區政府將繼續善用制度和人才優勢，在香港建設國際創科中心，促進香港和內地以至全球創科事業的合作，貢獻國家新質生產力的蓬勃發展。

　　除了政府的努力以外，企業的支持對創科發展同樣重要。今天的活動上，多家內地的科創企業將與香港科學園和數碼港等簽署合作備忘錄，同時我們將見證「香港創科聯合發展基金」的啟動，為香港創科注入全新力量。

　　今天的活動匯聚了多位諾貝爾獎、圖靈獎得獎者和優秀科學家，他們在不同領域取得重要成就，為人類文明進步作出傑出貢獻。我鼓勵各位青年學者和企業代表，都以他們的奮鬥精神和卓越成就為榜樣，堅持探索，勇敢追夢，為人類命運共同體作出貢獻！

　　最後，在這個美好時刻，我宣布：首屆「香港世界青年科學大會」暨「香江諾貝論壇」開幕！預祝圓滿成功！謝謝大家！

Ends/Saturday, April 13, 2024
Issued at HKT 15:37

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The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (April 13) attended the opening ceremony of Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and the Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2024. Photo shows Mr Lee (front row, centre); Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Liu Guangyuan (front row, ninth right); Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR Mr Li Yongsheng (front row, ninth left); the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (front row, seventh left); the President of the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities, Ms Li Ran (front row, seventh right); other guests and laureates of the Nobel Prize and the Turing Award, top-notch I&T (innovation and technology) talent and renowned scientists.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (April 13) speaks at the opening ceremony of Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and the Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2024.

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CE attends opening ceremony of Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2024

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