STORY: Hong Kong speeds up efforts to become int'l innovation, technology center
DATELINE: Sept. 6, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:06
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/TECHNOLOGY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Hong Kong
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): JOHN LEE, HKSAR Chief Executive
3. various of Hong Kong
4. various of a lab
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHEN WENHAN, Business manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Hong Kong
6. various of exhibitions
7. various of a speech delivered by HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PAUL CHAN, Financial secretary of HKSAR government
9. various of the Cyberport and rocket launching
10. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): CHAN CHING-CHUEN, Hong Kong scientist
11. shot of an automobile test

STORYLINE:

Hong Kong is working at full speed to build itself into an international centre of innovation and technology in a bid to transform and upgrade its economy.

China's State Council released the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone on Aug. 29.

The development plan aims to promote high-quality innovation and technology (I&T) development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and enable the cooperation zone to become a world-class innovation platform and an engine to drive I&T development in neighboring cities.

According to John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Hong Kong will continue to actively collaborate with Shenzhen to promote the advantages of the cooperation zone under the principle of "one zone, two parks" underpinned by the "one country, two systems" principle.

He made the remarks on Monday at a financial forum held by Sing Tao News Corporation Limited.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): JOHN LEE, HKSAR Chief Executive
"The HKSAR government thanks the central government and the Shenzhen municipal government for their strong support to the development of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone. Hong Kong will continue to actively collaborate with Shenzhen to promote the advantages of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone under the principle of the 'one zone, two parks' underpinned by the 'one country, two systems' principle. And the city will support the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) international innovation and technology center, and build an international innovation talent port for the GBA."

With the strong support of the central government and the HKSAR government, Hong Kong innovation and technology sector has attracted more enterprises and talents, and became more integrated into the national development as well.

In 2022, a total of 320 enterprises are stationed in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, an increase of 30 percent year-on-year, of which 20 percent came from the Chinese mainland or overseas.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHEN WENHAN, Business manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Hong Kong
"In fact Hong Kong is a very talented (place). Hong Kong is also a great place between the East and the West coming together. The infrastructure in Hong Kong is also very encouraging. It supports development. And also the co-incubation that we are doing with the HKSTP is a very good opportunity for us as an organization to step into this area."

The current-term HKSAR government has achieved certain accomplishments in attracting technology and innovation companies, as authorities have engaged with over 200 enterprises, with more than 25 already established or preparing to expand their operations in Hong Kong, Paul Chan, financial secretary of the HKSAR government, said in a blog post in Aug.

These 25 enterprises span various fields, such as artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, medical technology, and healthcare. They possess cutting-edge technologies within their respective industries, with several having a market or estimated value exceeding 10 billion Hong Kong dollars, Chan said.

According to the current plans, the initial stage of their investments in Hong Kong is expected to surpass 17 billion Hong Kong dollars, generating over 4,000 job opportunities, primarily in the fields of research and development and senior management positions.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PAUL CHAN, Financial secretary of HKSAR government
"We focus on four aspects on this topic. One is life health and medical health. The others are biotechnology, artificial intelligence and data science, and financial technology. We want to attract enterprises from these four areas."

Since last year, large and small forums and activities related to Web 3.0 have been held in Hong Kong. The HKSAR government allocated 50 million HKD (about 6,375,000 USD) in this year's budget and set up Task Force on Promoting Web3 Development in June this year to promote the vigorous and sustainable development of Web 3.0 in Hong Kong.

On August 25, a remote sensing satellite "HKUST-FYBB#1", jointly developed by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and mainland enterprises, was launched in Jiuquan, Gansu province.

The launch marked a new direction for cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong in the field of aerospace innovation. 

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): CHAN CHING-CHUEN, Hong Kong scientist
"Scientific research must be linked to the needs of the country and the needs of society. After choosing our direction, we must adhere to it."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)