THE Hong Kong Special Administrative Region needs to cultivate innovative thinking and attract global talent to foster a robust technology ecosystem, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po wrote in his blog.

At a dai pai dong meeting in Sham Shui Po on Saturday, the finance chief gathered global tech leaders, including Nvidia founder and chief executive Jensen Huang Jen Hsun, local university and scientific research personnel and scholars who returned to Hong Kong recently from overseas, as well as students, to discuss the Hong Kong’s tech future.

Chan highlighted that dialogues with various stakeholders are pivotal to cultivating cutting-edge innovation and delivering practical applications of research outcomes.

“This helps to inspire multi-perspective thinking about potential challenges and opportunities during development, while promoting more cross-sector and cross-industry collaboration opportunities,” he said.

He noted that an increasing number of foreign companies are eyeing Hong Kong’s technology potential, particularly its role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area innovation.

Companies from advanced economies like the United States and Europe, as well as emerging markets in the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, have expressed strong interest in the SAR’s tech ecosystem, Chan said. “Their focus centers on research and development opportunities and manufacturing capabilities in the Greater Bay Area.”

He noted that Hong Kong has advantages in policy support and infrastructure for technology development.

The SAR government unveil­ed a blueprint of the Development Outline for Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, aiming to facilitate seamless flow of people, materials, capital, and data between the two parks through policy innovation.

“This will enhance overall innovation and research efficiency and create better conditions for attracting enterprises while accelerating new productive forces,” Chan said.

The first phase of Hong Kong Park in the Loop is nearing completion. The zone marks a milestone with the launch of cross-border clinical trial facilities, he noted.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2024