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The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, started his visit programme in Beijing today (January 21) with meetings at various relevant ministries.
Mr Yang started the day by paying a courtesy call on the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Bo.
This was followed by a visit to the Ministry of Science and Technology, where Mr Yang was received by Vice Minister Mr Yin Hejun. Mr Yang introduced the work of the Innovation and Technology Bureau, including various initiatives proposed in the Policy Address, in particular the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund, the Midstream Research Fund and the Innovation and Technology Fund for Better Living. Both sides agreed to further enhance collaboration to promote innovation and technology development in the two places.
Mr Yang called on the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) in the afternoon and was received by Vice-Administrator Mr Guo Hui. They discussed how Hong Kong can contribute to promote the national standards to the international level. Mr Yang said that Hong Kong has been actively participating in the standardisation work of the Technical Committee of the International Organization for Standardization. He expressed the hope that closer collaboration with the SAC would be established with more Hong Kong experts being recommended to participate in the work, in particular in the aspects of "smart city" and Internet standards.
He then toured Zhongguancun Venture Avenue to gain a better understanding of the operation of co-working spaces and accelerators there.
Joining the visit were the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi, and the Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Allen Yeung.
Mr Yang will call on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology tomorrow (January 22) before concluding his Beijing visit.
Ends/Thursday, January 21, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:27
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