Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday extended a welcome to the Hangzhou Six Tigers tech companies — including DeepSeek, Game Science and Unitree Robotics — to expand into Hong Kong, as the special administrative region seeks to bolster its role as an international innovation and technology hub.
The invitation came on the second day of Lee’s four-day Zhejiang trip, which is aimed at fostering economic and technological cooperation.
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In a social media post, Lee detailed his visit to the Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City Exhibition Hall on Wednesday morning, where he explored advancements in smart city development, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.
A key focus was the “Hangzhou Six Tigers” — a group of high-growth tech firms making waves in cutting-edge sectors. Among them is DeepSeek, an AI startup that developed a large-scale language model at a fraction of the usual cost. Other members include robotics innovator Unitree, gaming developer Game Science, and brain-computer interface specialist BrainCo.
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After being briefed by company representatives on their plans to expand in Hong Kong, Lee thanked them for supporting Hong Kong’s I&T ambitions and highlighted the city’s strengths, including global connectivity, strong intellectual property protections, and a vibrant research environment.
“I welcome the ‘Hangzhou Six Tigers’ to set up operations in Hong Kong or expand their business there, as well as strengthen partnerships with local enterprises and institutions,” he wrote.
Lee also toured the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, observing AI-assisted clinical diagnostics, automated drug delivery systems, and robotic surgery technologies.
He praised the hospital’s progress in treating severe blood conditions and the efficiency gains from automation.
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Lee reaffirmed Hong Kong’s commitment to tech-driven growth, pointing to initiatives in his 2024 Policy Address to accelerate investment in AI, semiconductors, and smart devices.
He also emphasized digital governance reforms, such as deploying AI for public services and administrative tasks.
“The ongoing AI revolution will gradually become part of our daily lives,” he wrote.
On Monday, Lee said the HKSAR is set to ink deals with Zhejiang province across key sectors, including tech, amid rising geopolitical complexities.
