The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of the Northern Metropolis conducted a duty visit to the Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Shenzhen Park of Hetao) and Guangming Science City in Shenzhen today (February 2) to understand the development of these two innovation and technology (I&T) establishments, and to exchange views with the relevant Mainland authorities and institutions on ways to develop the Northern Metropolis and promote the synergistic development of Shenzhen and Hong Kong in I&T. Members who participated in the duty visit returned to Hong Kong in the evening.

     Members first visited the exhibition hall of the Shenzhen Park of Hetao in the morning. In August last year, the Central Government promulgated the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, setting out the deployment positioning of the Shenzhen Park of Hetao. Members learnt that the Co-operation Zone will be developed under the "one zone, two parks" model. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government are exploring and fostering innovative measures on various aspects such as providing travel convenience for research and development personnel; facilitating cross-boundary capital flow within the Co-operation Zone and exchanges on research data and samples.

     Members then went to Futian District to visit the industrial park of XtalPi, a drug research and development technology company in Shenzhen. During touring the facilities in the park, Members received a briefing by the company's representatives on Artificial Intelligence pharmaceutical technology.

     Accompanied by representatives from the Development and Reform Bureau of Guangming District, Members went to Guangming Science City in the afternoon and visited the Guangming District Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, to understand the overall planning concept of Guangmingcheng. Members then moved to Guangming Life Science Park and visited the Infrastructure for SynBio and the Brain Science Infrastructure therein. These two major technological facilities commenced operation in November 2023, with a view to further gathering global high-end scientific research resources and supporting basic research in the Greater Bay Area so as to enhance the efficiency of the commercialisation of scientific research outcomes.

     Members at last visited the Shenzhen headquarters of Huawei, a provider of information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices, to learn about its smart infrastructure and application of big data technology. Members also exchanged views with representatives of Huawei on how to integrate smart technology into urban planning.

     Members who participated in the visit were the chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr Lau Kwok-fan; Subcommittee members Ms Elizabeth Quat, Mr Yiu Pak-leung, Mr Yim Kong and Professor William Wong; as well as non-Subcommittee members Mr Paul Tse, Dr Junius Ho and Ms Judy Chan. The Under Secretary for Development, Mr David Lam, and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, also participated in the visit.

Ends/Friday, February 2, 2024
Issued at HKT 22:55

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