Zhang Manli: Hong Kong is forming a new development pattern with three major innovation and technology parks and five major research and development institutions.

On January 22nd, Ms. Zhang Manli, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau, spoke at the Legislative Council meeting on the motion proposed by Member Yim Mak of "Formulating the Development Vision of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Actively Connecting with the National '15th Five-Year Plan." She stated that there is a high degree of continuity between the 14th and 15th Five-Year Plans of the country, both of which explicitly support Hong Kong in building an international innovation and technology center. The 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to build a modern industrial system, accelerate high-level technological self-reliance, and lead the development of new productive forces. The SAR government will fully cooperate with the national strategy of scientific and technological innovation development, actively connect with the development of the 15th Five-Year Plan, enhance independent innovation capabilities, cultivate new quality production forces, and promote the integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation to construct a new entity economy with technological innovation as the mainstay. Furthermore, the SAR government will strengthen the coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, better integrate into and serve the national development plan, and help the country achieve high-quality development and high-level technological self-reliance. Ms. Zhang Manli continued by mentioning that Hong Kong is optimizing and adjusting its innovation and technology layout in accordance with the national deployment. In addition to the two major innovation and technology parks at the Science Park and Cyberport, the Heptat Hong Kong Park was officially opened at the end of last year, forming a new development pattern with three major innovation and technology parks and five major research and development institutions. The focus is on accelerating the development of innovation and technology land in the Heptat Hong Kong Park and Xin Tian area, which will form an important link for coordinated development, providing full-chain support for the innovation and technology industry, and serving as a significant technological platform to better connect with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and national strategic development. In conclusion, Ms. Zhang expressed her gratitude to the members for their valuable input on the development of innovation and technology. This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan of the country, and the Innovation and Technology Bureau will steadfastly work towards realizing Hong Kong's vision of becoming an international innovation and technology center, actively integrating into and serving the national development plan, and contributing to the construction of a technologically strong country.