AIDS Institute to be established at University of Hong Kong

The University of Hong Kong has signed an agreement with a U.S. based research centre to establish an AIDS Institute at its new medical complex.

The Institute, equipped with state-of-the-art research facilities, will conduct basic research on HIV, create and design new therapies for the infection, and develop AIDS vaccines for China and the world. A team of scientists will work at the Institute.

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (July 5) met with Dr David Ho, the Director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Centre (ADARC), which has signed the agreement with the University of Hong Kong.

"I am pleased to see more and more talented research scientists from around the world being attracted to work in Hong Kong," Mr Tung said.

"It is important that we draw talent who will be able to contribute to enhancing Hong Kong's competitive edge, particularly in knowledge-intensive, high value-added activities."

The Chief Executive mentioned people such as Mr Tsui Lap-chee at the University of Hong Kong; Mr Paul Chu of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Mr Simon Wong of the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, and Mr C D Tam of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

"With leading academics like this our efforts to move forward in innovation and technology are now being taken seriously around the world," he said.

Mr Tung said a respectable science base had been built up over the past five years as a result of sustained government efforts and increased public recognition that innovation and technology held the key to Hong Kong's future.

"We have seen internationally competitive research work, both basic and applied, being carried out in Hong Kong ranging from one of the smallest nanotubes in the world to the breakthrough discovery and use of maternal plasma DNA for the diagnosis of foetal deformities without the need for dangerous conventional methods," he said.

Resources had been devoted to support research and development in a number of areas including:

* Creating a $5 billion Innovation and Technology Fund;

* Establishing the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute;

* Greater incentives for industry to collaborate with universities in technology transfer and development;

* Technology incubation programmes;

* Financial assistance for technology entrepreneurs;

* Developing the Science Park and the Cyberport; and

* Creating the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to manage in a co-ordinated manner the technological infrastructure of Hong Kong.

Mr Tung said that in his second term he would continue to promote innovation and technology and to spearhead Hong Kong's drive to become a world-class, knowledge-based economy.

Ends/Friday, July 5, 2002