The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Professor Bai Chunli, at Government House this afternoon (November 30).
 
     Mrs Lam welcomed Professor Bai's visit to Hong Kong and said she is pleased to officiate with him at the opening ceremony of the Forum on Technology and Innovation for One Belt One Road and Greater Bay Area Development co-organised by the CAS and the Hong Kong Science Park today. Expressing her gratitude to the CAS for its support over the years for the development of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong, she said she is delighted that 25 Hong Kong scientists have been elected as members of the CAS so far. With close ties and co-operation, the CAS and universities and relevant organisations in Hong Kong have been joining hands to take forward research projects on areas such as stem cells and regenerative medicine to seize the opportunities in the research field.
 
     Noting that I&T is one of the priorities of the current-term Government, she said that she hopes I&T will promote sustained and diversified economic and social development, boost the upgrading and transformation of the overall economic structure and enhance the quality of life of the people. In addition to the announcement of a series of policy initiatives to support the development of I&T in her maiden Policy Address, she said she attaches great importance to deepening co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland in this area to bring about mutual benefits. Under the National 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong can attract outstanding research institutions and talent worldwide to promote exchanges and collaboration in I&T among Hong Kong, Mainland and overseas institutions, and help innovation enterprises in the Mainland to "go global" to access the overseas markets.
 
     Noting that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area city cluster development plan will promote closer collaboration in I&T in the Bay Area, she expressed the hope that Hong Kong's research institutions can make full use of the resources and advantages in the Bay Area to enhance transfers in I&T fields.

Ends/Thursday, November 30, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:08

NNNN