John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of HKSAR, speaks at the Opening Ceremony of The Inaugural Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2023, at Hong Kong Science Park on Nov 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Monday that Hong Kong is committed to expanding its innovation and technology talent pool and leveraging its advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework to foster connections with the Chinese mainland and establish itself as an international innovation and technology hub.

Speaking at the inaugural Hong Kong Laureate Forum, Lee said a sustainable talent pool is a key factor for the successful development of innovation and technology in the city.

Lee said the city has achieved satisfactory progress in attracting enterprises, citing the establishment or expansion of 30 key companies in various fields — including life sciences, artificial intelligence, and financial technology — within the past year

The Hong Kong Laureate Forum, organized by the Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum and fully sponsored by the Lee Shau Kee Foundation, commenced on Monday and will run until Saturday.

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About 20 distinguished Shaw Laureates from the fields of astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences have gathered in Hong Kong for the six-day event to engage with approximately 200 young scientists from around the globe, and to share their invaluable experience across various scientific disciplines.

Lee detailed the proposed measures outlined in his latest Policy Address, which aimed at promoting the development of innovation and technology.

He said these measures encompass the advancement of artificial intelligence, facilitation of cross-border data flow, and digital government services, all of which are expected to bolster the innovation and technology ecosystem and drive substantial growth within the industry.

Highlighting Hong Kong's academic prowess, Lee emphasized that the city is the only Asian city to have five universities among the world's top 100.

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Hong Kong's exceptional performance in the category of "graduates in science" secured it the top rank globally in the 2023 World Talent Ranking by the International Institute for Management Development. Recently, the University of Hong Kong was recognized as Asia's second-best university by QS.

In the meantime, Lee said the city has achieved satisfactory progress in attracting enterprises, citing the establishment or expansion of 30 key companies in various fields — including life sciences, artificial intelligence, and financial technology — within the past year. These endeavors are projected to attract over $4 billion in investments and create approximately 10,000 job opportunities in Hong Kong.

Timothy W. Tong, Chairman of the HKLF Council, speaks at the Opening Ceremony of The Inaugural Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2023, at Hong Kong Science Park on Nov 13, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

During the opening ceremony of the forum, Timothy Tong Wai-cheung, chairman of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, said the event is aimed at showcasing scientific achievements, raising awareness about groundbreaking discoveries, and inspiring younger generations to pursue careers in science.

The event will include keynote speeches and group discussions, and the prize winners will also visit local secondary schools in the city to interact with students. They will be aiming to utilize their experience and reputations to foster a strong interest in science among young people and inspire them to pursue a career in scientific research, Tong said.

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Raymond Chan, chairman of the Shaw Prize Council, emphasized the pivotal role of science and education in advancing humanity, noting that science and education provide a solid foundation for the prestigious Shaw Prize.