HK chief executive visits tech cooperation zone in SZ

Writer:   |  Editor: Holly Wang  |  From:   |  Updated: 2020-08-28

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam delivers a speech via a video message in celebration of the 10th anniversay of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qianhai and Shekou Area yesterday. Hong Kong Commercial Daily

HKSAR Government is moving forward with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park at full steam, with a view to making the first batch of portions of land available by 2021, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said during her visit to Shenzhen on Wednesday.

Lam headed a delegation to visit the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Technological Innovation and Cooperation Zone in Shenzhen after attending the opening of Liantang Checkpoint on Wednesday.

“By the end of 2024, the first-stage construction of three buildings will be completed and tenants will be allowed to move in by early 2025,” Lam noted, while listening to the progress report about the cooperation zone.

Lam said she was pleased to note that there are currently 370,000 square meters of space for scientific research in the zone and more than 100 projects have established a presence there or have shown an interest in doing so. Development of the zone is making good progress and it will have strong links and cooperation with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park located in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

Lam also visited the HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute and Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub inside Futian Bonded Zone, and exchanged thoughts with Hong Kong young people who started businesses in Shenzhen.

While visiting the youth innovation and entrepreneurship projects of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub in Futian Bonded Zone, Lam said that the Hong Kong government is committed to promoting youth innovation and entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

“The government has rolled out new subsidy plans under the Youth Development Fund to support those who are interested in starting their businesses in Hong Kong and in the Greater Bay Area cities,” Lam said.

At a conference marking the 10th anniversary of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone on Thursday, Lam congratulated Shenzhen on the anniversary of the cooperation zone through a video, according to a report of Hong Kong Commercial Daily.

In the video, she noted that Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub had incubated more than 200 Hong Kong enterprises and she welcomed more measures from Qianhai to promote cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

“More than 11,000 Hong Kong enterprises had registered in Qianhai by the first half of the year. Hong Kong and Qianhai share great opportunities for development in the Greater Bay Area. Under ‘one country, two systems,’ Hong Kong can be an open platform to cooperate with Qianhai in finance, professional services and the creative industry,” Lam said.