**********************************************************
Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, at the Forum on Creating Synergy in Innovation and Technology - Shenzhen/Hong Kong Co-operation this morning (July 8).
Professor (Philip) Chan, (Deputy) Director General Gong, (Vice) Mayor Yuan, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
First of all, a warm welcome to you all, and thank you so much for attending this timely and important forum.
Timing is often the most crucial element for any ambitious initiative to succeed. This is particularly the case when there are multiple stakeholders from different geographical locations, all striving for the same goal.
I wish to congratulate Hong Kong Polytechnic University on organising this event. It brings together some of the brightest minds from the realms of innovation and technology at exactly the right time.
Through expert speakers and discussion panels, this forum will help synchronise our joint efforts to promote Shenzhen/Hong Kong co-operation on innovation and technology.
Earlier this year, the Central Government endorsed the 12th National Five-Year Plan. Among other things, the plan fully supports us in fostering our emerging sectors, including Innovation and Technology.
At the same time, the Central Government plans to speed up the formation of several regional innovation centres. This includes the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region.
Also, the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation was signed in Beijing last year. This marked another critical step towards synergising the advantages of different centres within our region. The Framework Agreement aims to establish the PRD as one of the world's most competitive regions by the year 2020. Success in developing innovation and technology will be at the heart of achieving this goal.
Today, the rapid social and economic development of the PRD, including Hong Kong and Shenzhen, is generating huge demand for new technologies. This in turn creates exciting potential for the commercialisation of the fruits of R&D.
Established in 2007, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle offers a superb platform to make the most of our combined strengths and opportunities. Technology companies can tap the cutting edge applied R&D services developed by Hong Kong's world-class universities and research institutes. We have a robust intellectual property protection regime, a tried and trusted legal system, and on top of that, we have international connectivity. All this creates an ideal environment for the exchange of new ideas on the latest technology.
At the same time, Shenzhen also has its finger on the pulse of innovation and technology. It offers a large talent base and unrivalled manufacturing capabilities that help bring ideas off the drawing board and into reality.
The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle has already achieved some impressive collaborative results, including high profile joint projects and successful overseas roadshows.
No doubt, speakers at this Forum will share their ideas on how to maximise the Innovation Circle's potential.
I am pleased to announce today, that another technology company - BYD - has decided to anchor its R&D office in the Hong Kong Science Park. BYD will work with our R&D centres to develop electric vehicles. Eco-friendly vehicles are one of the seven emerging strategic industries highlighted in the 12th Five-Year Plan. This is good timing, indeed.
I am pleased that the BYD Chairman, Mr Wang, will be sharing his insights with us during this Forum.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have the right people, working in the right place at the right time to make this Forum a resounding success.
Thank you all for being here. I look forward to learning more about your ideas to maximise the synergy between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
I also wish our visitors a very enjoyable stay here in Hong Kong.
Thank you.
Ends/Friday, July 8, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:33
NNNN
Windows Media format
Real Media format