The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited Shenzhen today (August 31) to learn about the achievements of the co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in creative industries as well as innovation and technology in recent years, and to explore with the Shenzhen Municipal Government room for the two places to complement each other in bringing about mutual benefits in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area.

　　Accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Mrs Lam visited Qianhai Bauhinia Park after arriving in Shenzhen in the morning. At the Park she participated in a tree planting activity with the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Wang Weizhong. Built in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Qianhai Bauhinia Park features bauhinia trees to signify the prospects of prosperity and collaboration for Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
 
     Mrs Lam and Mr Wang then officiated together at the opening of the "20......43 Business of Hong Kong Design" - Shenzhen exhibition at the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Centre. The roving exhibition, being staged in the Mainland cities of Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Wuhan, showcases 43 successful joint projects by Hong Kong designers and Mainland companies to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Lam said the Agreement on Promoting Co-operation in Creative Industries signed by the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government last year further deepened exchanges and collaboration between the two places in creative industries. Noting that the exhibition is a good example of collaboration between the two places in organising creative exchange programmes, Mrs Lam said she is confident that Shenzhen and Hong Kong will become Asia's first-class twin cities in design.

     Mrs Lam and Mr Wang as well as other officials toured the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub after the ceremony. Jointly established by the Qianhai Authority, the Shenzhen Youth Federation and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups in the end of 2014, the Hub aims to strengthen co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong and develop into an international community for innovation for young entrepreneurs. As of last month, the Hub had incubated 216 groups of start-up entrepreneurs, half of which are from Hong Kong. During the tour, Mrs Lam visited the Residence in the Hub and spoke with a Hong Kong young entrepreneur who graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong to learn about how the Hub provided a quality platform for his team of entrepreneurs to set up business. The Residence, opened in April this year, offers rental apartments to entrepreneurs.

     Mrs Lam and Mr Wang also attended the launch ceremony of Zetta Bridge Qianhai Hong Kong-Shenzhen Design Innovation Hub. Located at Mawan, Qianhai, the Hub is set to become an exchange platform for the creative industries including design and architecture to boost further co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

     At noon, Mrs Lam and the other officials met with Mr Wang and attended a lunch hosted by him. Noting that the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development present tremendous opportunities for Shenzhen and Hong Kong, she expressed the hope that the two places would build on the existing basis to deepen co-operation in various areas, in particular innovation and technology and creative industries. In accordance with the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation in the Development of the Bay Area signed on July 1, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau are formulating specific projects in the development plan. Mrs Lam pointed out that Hong Kong will work together with Shenzhen to take forward various key joint projects.

     After the lunch, Mrs Lam and the other officials visited Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and were briefed by the management of the company on the latest developments on the application of information and communications technology. Mrs Lam also learnt about the implementation of smart city initiatives by the Shenzhen Municipal Government.

     Before returning to Hong Kong, Mrs Lam and the officials toured the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Base in Nanshan, where she attended its plaque unveiling ceremony in the capacity of the Chief Secretary for Administration in 2013. Offering a good working environment for both Shenzhen and Hong Kong young entrepreneurs to pursue their aspirations to set up businesses in innovation and technology, the Base has incubated some 20 enterprises whose products include surveying technology and a sports app.

     Mrs Lam and the officials returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

Ends/Thursday, August 31, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:18

NNNN