The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, called on the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Beijing today (December 19) to exchange views with the leaders of the two ministries on issues of common interest.

     Mr Lee first met with the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Yin Hejun. Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is moving full steam ahead with the development of the Northern Metropolis, which provides key impetus for the future development of Hong Kong and the promotion of high-quality co-operation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The HKSAR Government also proactively co-operates with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to develop the Hetao Shenzhen‑Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co‑operation Zone, leveraging the comparative advantages of the two places.

     Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the country's support and confidence in Hong Kong's development in innovation and technology, having established 16 State Key Laboratories in the city. Mr Lee said the "Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Expediting the Development of Hong Kong into an International Innovation and Technology Centre", signed by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the HKSAR Government this March, signified a new chapter for science and technology co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong. He said that he looks forward to working with the Ministry to further strengthen co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong in innovation and technology, expediting the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre. Mr Lee said that Hong Kong will capitalise on its unique advantage of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world to build a collaborative innovation platform for industries and the academic and research sectors around the world, with a view to pooling global innovation resources for the country and better integrating into the overall development of the country.

     Mr Lee then met with the Party Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Sun Yeli. Noting that the number of visitors to Hong Kong in the third quarter this year has already returned to about 70 per cent of that in the same period in 2017 and 2018, Mr Lee said that the tourism industry in Hong Kong has enjoyed a speedy recovery since the full resumption of normal travel between the city and the Mainland in February this year. He also said that the HKSAR Government will continue to leverage Hong Kong's role as an international tourism hub and a core demonstration zone for multi-destination tourism. Upcoming priorities of the HKSAR Government include attracting more high value-added overnight visitors by tapping into new source markets, stimulating visitors' spending, and promoting the high-quality development of tourism.

     Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to proactively leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages as a melting pot of Chinese and Western cultures and being a highly internationalised city, fully utilise the city's rich cultural resources, and promote the fine traditional Chinese culture.

     Mr Lee will continue his visit to Beijing tomorrow (December 20) and return to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

Ends/Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Issued at HKT 19:20

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