The Government today welcomed the Ministry of Science & Technology’s announcement on the new measures benefitting Hong Kong to strengthen the support for the city’s innovation and technology (I&T) development.

The measures were outlined at a seminar on the central government’s science and technology policies benefitting Hong Kong held at the Science Park this afternoon.

They include opening up more national-level science and technology programmes to Hong Kong, allowing young local academics to apply for the Young Scientists Fund under the National Natural Science Foundation of China, welcoming personnel and experts in Hong Kong’s science and technology sector to participate in the China Association for Science & Technology's nationwide academic associations as well as be admitted to the National Science & Technology Expert Database and the Award Assessment Expert Database, enhancing the mechanism of the shared use of large-scale instruments and equipment for research and development (R&D) with Hong Kong, deepening science and technology exchanges between people in the Mainland and Hong Kong, and supporting the city to participate in the setting up of a national technology innovation hub.

Secretary for Innovation & Technology Alfred Sit thanked the central government for its trust and support, adding that Hong Kong will make good use of the country’s backing.

He said: “Opening up more themes and projects under various science and technology programmes and funds as well as the Mainland’s large-scale instruments and equipment to Hong Kong will help the local research sector obtain more resources to conduct R&D work.

“The participation of personnel and experts in Hong Kong’s science and technology sector in nationwide academic associations of the China Association for Science & Technology and different expert databases can also allow Hong Kong researchers to better utilise the strengths of Hong Kong and contribute to meeting the needs of the country.”

Highlighting that the National 14th Five-Year Plan indicates clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T hub, Mr Sit noted that outstanding local researchers will be eager to give play to Hong Kong's strengths in basic research, with a view to developing the city into a global influential I&T hub and contributing to building the country into one which is strong in science and technology.

He also anticipates that the gradual implementation of the new measures will bring more impetus to Hong Kong’s scientific research sector, contributing to the country’s I&T development and the building of the Greater Bay Area into an international I&T hub.

The Government is committed to developing I&T, while the country has introduced measures that have provided support and opportunities for the growth of scientific research as well as I&T in Hong Kong.