Hong Kong to utilize mainland connections

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to developing the innovation and technology industry by leveraging mainland connectivity that can propel economic transformation and diversification in the city, political heavyweights said at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong InnoX Academy on Tuesday.

The Hong Kong InnoX Academy is a non-profit educational institution for promoting technology education in Hong Kong, initiated by Sequoia Capital China's Hong Kong X Foundation, the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The institution is tasked with nurturing innovation and technology talent in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area that can be the conduit for promoting an innovative economy in Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong's development in technology and innovation is flourishing under the support of the central government and the initiatives of the Hong Kong SAR government," Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at the ceremony.

Lee said the speech of President Xi Jinping early this month has injected significant impetus for Hong Kong to develop as a global technology and innovation hub.

"I hope various sectors in society can work with the government to stimulate the innovative thinking of the new generation in the city, and encourage young people to be bolder in trying new career paths that can align with the national development blueprint," the chief executive noted.

On his trip during the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Xi said the Hong Kong SAR government should continue to provide generous support to the development of Hong Kong's role as an international technological and innovation hub, an effort integrated under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

The president also called on Hong Kong to closely collaborate with mainland cities, especially those in the Greater Bay Area, strengthening and creating synergies among research and academic institutions, industries and finance, building a global hub for science, technology and innovation in the Greater Bay Area.

The chief executive added that, through the inputs of universities, corporations, venture capital investment specialists and various sectors, the InnoX Academy is tasked with the responsibility to design a suite of well-structured courses to inspire and train technology talent.

"In the end, business teams with innovative thinking can be cemented to satisfy the needs of the entire business value chain, from design to application, from marketing to satisfying customer needs, and from working out new products to relevant work systems," Lee noted.

Leung Chun-ying, former chief executive and vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, gave his remarks via a recorded message.

"The Hong Kong InnoX Academy should leverage the platform of the Greater Bay Area to foster more interactions between Hong Kong and Guangdong province so that this can create a platform for young people in the city cluster area which is higher, bigger and better," he said.

The point is that, in building up the technology and innovation industry, Hong Kong should develop an environment that is conducive for technology talent to utilize their knowledge, Leung added.

Tan Tieniu, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, voiced his hopes for the Hong Kong InnoX Academy.

"The academy should capitalize on its own niches to cement a platform of advancing popular science knowledge, support youth development by forging a platform to nurture technology talent, and utilize resources of the nation to create a platform with passion for the country," Tan said at the ceremony.