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Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at the award presentation ceremony of the Asia Pacific Information and Communication Technology Alliance Awards 2013 today (November 27):
Michael (Mr Michael Leung, President, Hong Kong Computer Society), Sutee (Mr Sutee Satanasathaporn, APICTA Chairperson), Agnes (Mrs Agnes Mak, APICTA Organising Committee Chairperson), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you here at the presentation ceremony of the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards. I am delighted that APICTA has arrived in Hong Kong again, the second time since 2004. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I would like to express my warmest welcome to you all.
This millennium has witnessed wave after wave of technology transformation that change both production and consumption trends, and open up new horizons in the development of innovative ICT solutions and applications. The timely establishment of APICTA in the millennium provides useful networking and product benchmarking opportunities to stimulate ingenuity and creativity for ICT innovators and entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific region. Thanks to the close collaboration and active participation of member economies, APICTA has evolved into an internationally renowned ICT mega-event. Over the years, APICTA has scouted out distinguished ICT products and solutions, giving them the recognition and encouragement to seek further success in the international arena and the global market.
As the host of APICTA 2013, Hong Kong strives to achieve the APICTA's goals of in stimulating ICT innovations and creativity, facilitating technology transfer and exchange, as well as promoting regional ICT advancement and socio-economic development.
To create an enabling environment for innovative ideas to flourish, Hong Kong has established two technology flagship infrastructures, the Cyberport and the Science Park, to promote the development of applied R&D, technological innovation and technology-related applications and businesses. They bring together strategic clusters of high-tech companies and professional talents from all over the world, facilitating synergy and partnership among different segments of the ICT industry as well as among professionals from research institutes.
To drive technological innovation, we are committed to supporting technology startups and fostering a vibrant ecosystem for them to flourish, as they are the power houses of innovation. Through the incubation programmes of Cyberport and Science Park, we offer technology startups not just with subsidised office space and facilities, but also through mentorship, training and business advice, as well as marketing and promotion assistance, thus helping these novice companies to grow and develop, and to realise their dreams in the journey of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Moreover, the clustering of technology companies in Cyberport and Science Park promotes their networking and collaboration with the entrepreneurship community, facilitating the cross-fertilisation of ideas and expertise for the materialisation of innovative ideas and creation of intuitive products. Over the years, these two technology hubs have developed into cradles of technological innovation and excellence. Many ICT applications created by their tenants and incubatees have won recognition and awards, including those of APICTA, and have achieved success in the global marketplace.
The great inventor Thomas Edison once said, "The value of an idea lies in the using of it." Indeed, it is crucial that innovative ideas can be put to beneficial use. To fully capitalise on the outcome of technological innovation, we encourage technology transfer from our universities to industry. Apart from encouraging universities to make their knowledge available to industry and investors, we also encourage academia to explore and exploit technological knowledge, skills and expertise, and to transfer such highly valuable assets to the commercial sector, so as to ensure that innovative ideas and research output are actualised for the benefit of society and the economy.
On the occasion of this APICTA 2013 Awards Presentation Ceremony, I would like to congratulate all awards winners, indeed all nominees, who have worked hard and long to develop ingenious ICT applications. Your outstanding achievements have brought significant benefits to businesses and the community, propelling the development of the region. In addition to applauding the winners, I would also like to thank the Hong Kong Computer Society, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and Cyberport for their sterling efforts in organising tonight's award ceremony. For those from overseas, I wish you a joyful night and a wonderful stay in Hong Kong. Thank you very much.
Ends/Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:36
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