The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, welcomed the Central Government's promulgation of the "Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone" (Development Plan for Shenzhen Park) today (August 29). He indicated that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) would continue to actively collaborate with Shenzhen to take forward the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, leveraging the comparative advantages of the two places.

The "Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035" has indicated clear support for Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, and included the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Loop as one of the four major platforms of co-operation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The Co-operation Zone located at the two sides of Shenzhen River is developed under the "one river, two banks" and "one zone, two parks" vision. It consists of a park of about 300 hectares on the Shenzhen side, and another park of 87 hectares on the Hong Kong side. The HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Developing the Lok Ma Chau Loop by Hong Kong and Shenzhen" in 2017, and subsequently the "Co-operation Arrangement on the Establishment of 'One Zone, Two Parks' in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Co-operation Zone at the Lok Ma Chau Loop" in 2021. Through the Joint Task Force on the Development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park in the Loop, Hong Kong and Shenzhen have been liaising closely to exchange views on the development of the Co-operation Zone and the latest development of both parks.

The Development Plan for Shenzhen Park comprises a total of 30 measures, covering such areas as the development positioning, objectives, overall layout and infrastructure layout of the Shenzhen Park, as well as the collaboration with Hong Kong to promote international I&T development. It aims to promote high quality I&T development in the GBA, and enable the Co-operation Zone to become a world-class innovation platform and an engine to drive I&T development in neighbouring cities.

Mr Lee said, "The HKSAR Government is grateful for the staunch support of the Central People's Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government for the development of the Co-operation Zone. The promulgation of the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park injects new momentum to and sets a new stage for the collaboration on I&T development by the two places. The HKSAR will continue to actively work with Shenzhen to promote the advantages of the Co-operation Zone under the principle of the 'one zone, two parks' underpinned by the 'one country, two systems' principle. We will strive to implement measures to promote a cross-boundary flow of various innovation elements. This will enable the Co-operation Zone to serve as the bridgehead for intensive I&T co‑operation between the two places, and allow Hong Kong to give full play to its unique advantage of 'enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world'. This, in turn, can support the development of the GBA international I&T centre.

"Over the past few years, Hong Kong and Shenzhen have made good progress in the development of the Co-operation Zone. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation launched the GBA InnoExpress in the Shenzhen Park in July 2022 to nurture and provide support services for I&T start-ups and enterprises of Hong Kong and the Mainland. In addition, the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch, located in the Shenzhen Park, has commenced operation in stages. At the same time, the first batch of three buildings in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), i.e. the Hong Kong Park, will be completed by phases from end-2024 onwards as scheduled. To facilitate development by cluster so as to bring synergy, and with reference to the experience of similar parks on the Mainland and overseas, the first phase of the HSITP will consist of different technology zones by sectors. Through investment promotion and leveraging on market forces, the construction of high-quality research and industrial facilities will be accelerated."

Mr Lee continued, "To chart Hong Kong in moving full steam towards our vision of an international I&T centre, the HKSAR Government promulgated the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint. It sets out the development direction and key strategies for the roadmap and timetable for realising this vision. The HKSAR Government will enhance the I&T ecosystem, and proactively integrate into the overall development of the country so as to consolidate Hong Kong's role as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the world. The HKSAR Government is now focusing on attracting high-quality enterprises and talent to Hong Kong, primarily in such I&T areas as life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, thereby expediting the overall development of Hong Kong's technology industry."