HK, Shenzhen sign deal on technology tie-up
By Louise Ho (HK Edition)

Hong Kong and Shenzhen yesterday signed an agreement to set up a "Shenzhen / Hong Kong Innovation Circle" for comprehensive enhancement of technology collaboration between the two places.

The agreement was in response to the strategic proposal put forward by the Economic Summit on "China's 11th Five Year Plan and the Development of Hong Kong" in September last year to establish closer co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

The agreement was signed by Joseph Wong, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology and Liu Yingli, Executive Deputy Director of Shenzhen Municipal Government yesterday in Hong Kong.

Under the agreement, both sides have decided to strengthen exchange of talents and resources in innovation technology, including launching exchange programs on technology management for researchers.

It was decided that public services areas will be a major area of collaboration, like medical and health, and environmental protection.

Under the deal, funds will be provided for enterprises and R&D institutes to jointly conduct innovative R&D projects.

Making use of the present public technology platforms, Hong Kong and Shenzhen will jointly promote Hong Kong's R&D centers as the Shenzhen-Hong Kong innovation platform.

Co-operation between science and technology parks between the two cities will also be enhanced, the agreement said.

A steering group will be set up to oversee and map out details of the agreement. Members will include senior government officials and representatives of technology organizations from the two places.

Cheng Jinpei, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Song Hai, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, Xu Zongheng, Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government, and Henry Tang, Financial Secretary were present at the signing ceremony.

Tang said the signing of the agreement signified a new era of an extended technological co-operation and exchanges between the two places, where both the cities would complement each other's strengths to develop a favorable environment for innovation. Hong Kong must strengthen technological tie-up with the mainland, he added.

Before the signing of the agreement, a forum "Joining Hands in Building an Innovative Nation" was held at the Convention and Exhibition Center to discuss national innovation strategies and the role of Hong Kong in China's plan of building an innovative technology system as stipulated in the 11th Five-Year Plan.

The forum was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the PRC and the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau of the HKSAR.

Tang and Li Gang, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR were the officiating guests at the forum's opening ceremony.

Wong said that the "Shenzhen / Hong Kong Innovation Circle" agreement would make co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen more concrete and comprehensive.

(HK Edition 05/22/2007 page6)