HONG KONG – Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu welcomed on Tuesday the central government’s promulgation of a plan to enhance a sci-tech innovation cooperation zone jointly developed by Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Lee said the HKSAR government is grateful for the staunch support of the central government and the Shenzhen municipal government for the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.

The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation launched the GBA InnoExpress in the Shenzhen Park in July 2022 to nurture and provide support services for I&T start-ups and enterprises of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, Lee said

“The promulgation of the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park injects new momentum to and sets a new stage for the collaboration on I&T development by the two places,” Lee was quoted as saying in an HKSAR government statement.

He said the SAR will continue to actively work with Shenzhen to promote the advantages of the Cooperation Zone under the principle of the 'one zone, two parks' underpinned by the 'one country, two systems' principle.

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“We will strive to implement measures to promote a cross-boundary flow of various innovation elements,” Lee said.

“This will enable the Cooperation Zone to serve as the bridgehead for intensive I&T cooperation between the two places, and allow Hong Kong to give full play to its unique advantage of 'enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world',” he added.

Lee said Hong Kong and Shenzhen have made good progress in the development of the Cooperation Zone in recent years.

The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation launched the GBA InnoExpress in the Shenzhen Park in July 2022 to nurture and provide support services for I&T start-ups and enterprises of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, Lee said.

He added that the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch, located in the Shenzhen Park, has started operating in stages while the first batch of three buildings in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park will be completed by phases from end-2024 onwards.

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“To facilitate development by cluster so as to bring synergy, and with reference to the experience of similar parks on the mainland and overseas, the first phase of the HSITP will consist of different technology zones by sectors,” Lee said.

“Through investment promotion and leveraging on market forces, the construction of high-quality research and industrial facilities will be accelerated," he added.

The Cooperation Zone located on the two sides of Shenzhen River is being developed under the "one river, two banks" and "one zone, two parks" vision. It consists of a park of about 300 hectares on the Shenzhen side, and another park of 87 hectares on the Hong Kong side.