Hong Kong Celebrates Opening of Hetao Science and Technology Innovation Park, Boosting Regional Development and Collaboration.

Remarks by SITI at media session

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, met the media along with the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry and Chairman of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP), Mr Kevin Choi, and the Chief Executive Officer of the HSITP, Mr Vincent Ma, at the moment (December 22). Following are the remarks by Professor Sun:

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry: Today, we’re so delighted to affix the Chief Executive and a quantity of distinguished company in witnessing the official opening of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. This marks a big milestone within the improvement of the Hetao Hong Kong Park with an accelerated tempo and enhanced effectivity underneath the management of the Chief Executive.

This yr marks the conclusion of the National 14th Five-Year Plan. Today, the opening of the Hetao Hong Kong Park holds profound significance. This occasion not solely underscores Hong Kong’s proactive participation in and contribution to our nationwide strategic improvement but additionally serves as an indication of Hong Kong’s lively function and substantial contribution to the nationwide science and expertise innovation technique.

The Hetao Hong Kong Park covers 87 hectares; along with one other 210 hectares of I&T (innovation and expertise) land within the San Tin Technopole, it’s a key element of Hong Kong’s new strategic format of a South-North twin engine (finance-I&T). The Hong Kong Park will undertake a mannequin of R&D (analysis and improvement) plus pilot manufacturing, prioritising the event of cutting-edge applied sciences in sure areas together with life and well being sciences, medical expertise, AI and robotics, new power and high-end sensible manufacturing. The Park will entice main enterprises to arrange R&D centres and pilot manufacturing strains, supporting the complete course of from R&D to manufacturing.

At current, greater than 60 native, Mainland and abroad enterprises and establishments have efficiently settled within the Hetao Hong Kong Park. These firms and organisations are attracted by the geographical benefit, forthcoming cross-boundary coverage measures and, extra importantly, the large potential and alternative possessed by the Greater Bay Area (GBA) improvement. Hong Kongpossesses the distinctive benefit of connecting Mainland and abroad markets, which will help Mainland firms to go world, on the similar time facilitating abroad firms in utilizing the Hetao Hong Kong Park as a springboard to enter the GBA and Mainland markets.

Moving ahead, we are going to give attention to rolling out the remaining land in Phase 1 improvement and urgent forward with the planning for Phase 2. We will expedite the development of the remaining 5 buildings and ensure that all these 5 buildings will probably be prepared ranging from 2027.

The Hetao Hong Kong Park will take at the moment’s opening as a brand new start line. Leveraging the strengths of “one country, two systems” with the geographical benefit of “one river, two banks”, we are going to speed up collaboration with the Shenzhen Park to construct a core engine for regional innovation improvement. We are actually pleased to take a number of questions from you. Thank you.

Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport at the moment (December 22) and seized about 5 kilograms of suspected cocaine and arrested a person. Afterwards, Customs officers additionally seized three suspected gravity-operated metal batons and two suspected managed air pistols within the man’s residential premises. The complete estimated market worth of the seized gadgets was about $4 million.

A 25-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Johannesburg, South Africa, at the moment. During customs clearance, Customs officers discovered about 5kg of suspected cocaine hid within the false compartments of his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

Later, Customs officers additional seized three suspected gravity-operated metal batons and two suspected managed air pistols within the arrested man’s residence.

The investigation is ongoing.

Customs will proceed to step up enforcement towards drug trafficking actions by way of intelligence evaluation. The division additionally reminds members of the general public to remain alert and to not take part in drug trafficking actions for financial return. They should not settle for hiring or delegation from one other occasion to hold managed gadgets into and out of Hong Kong. They are additionally reminded to not carry unknown gadgets for different folks.

Customs will proceed to use a danger evaluation strategy and give attention to deciding on passengers from high-risk areas for clearance to fight transnational drug trafficking actions.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a harmful drug is a severe offence. The most penalty upon conviction is a superb of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, any particular person discovered responsible of possession of arms with out a licence is liable to a most superb of $100,000 and imprisonment for 14 years.

Under the Weapons Ordinance, any particular person discovered responsible of possessing any prohibited weapon is liable to a most superb of $10,000 and imprisonment for 3 years.

Members of the general public might report any suspected drug trafficking actions to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its devoted crime-reporting e mail account ([email protected]) or on-line type (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).