Chief Executive John Lee today welcomed the central government’s promulgation of a development plan for the Shenzhen Park part of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.

The co-operation zone, located on both sides of the Shenzhen River, is being developed under a vision for “one river, two banks” and “one zone, two parks.”

It will consist of a park of about 300 hectares on the Shenzhen side, and another park of 87 hectares on the Hong Kong side.

The Hong Kong SAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2017, and another co-operation arrangement in 2021. The two governments have been liaising closely through a joint task force to exchange views on the development of the zone and of both parks.

The Shenzhen Park development plan comprises 30 measures, covering such factors as positioning, objectives, infrastructure and the park’s overall layout, as well as collaboration with Hong Kong to promote international I&T development.

The goal is to promote high quality I&T development in the GBA and enable the co-operation zone to become a world-class innovation platform and an engine to drive I&T development in neighbouring cities.

Mr Lee said the Hong Kong SAR Government is grateful for the staunch support of the Central People’s Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government in terms of the co-operation zone’s development.

He added that the promulgation of the Shenzhen Park development plan injects new momentum into future collaboration on I&T development by the two places.

The Chief Executive said the Hong Kong SAR will continue to work with Shenzhen to promote the co-operation zone’s advantages, under a “one zone, two parks” principle that aligns with the “one country, two systems” principle.

“We will strive to implement measures to promote a cross-boundary flow of various innovation elements,” he said. “This will enable the co-operation zone to serve as the bridgehead for intensive I&T co-operation between the two places, and allow Hong Kong to give full play to its unique advantage of enjoying strong support (from) the motherland and being closely connected to the world.

“This, in turn, can support the development of the GBA international I&T centre.”

Me Lee stressed that over the past few years, Hong Kong and Shenzhen have made good progress in developing the co-operation zone. He noted that a first batch of three buildings that will form part of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), ie the Hong Kong Park, will be completed by phases, on schedule, from the end of 2024 onwards.

The first phase of the HSITP will consist of zones corresponding to different technology sectors, Mr Lee said, explaining that such clustering is common at similar parks on the Mainland and overseas and brings synergy.   

He added: “To chart Hong Kong in moving full steam towards our vision of an international I&T centre, the Hong Kong SAR Government promulgated the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint. It sets out the development direction and key strategies for the roadmap and timetable for realising this vision.

“The Hong Kong SAR Government will enhance the I&T ecosystem, and proactively integrate into the overall development of the country so as to consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the world.”