An alliance aimed at boosting Hong Kong’s new industrialization with cross-sector collaboration was launched on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the city’s journey towards high-quality development.
Proposed by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his 2024 Policy Address, the establishment of the alliance was coordinated by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, in collaboration with seven other founding organizations, with the aim of promoting closer collaboration between government, industry, academia, research, and investment sectors, building a cooperative platform for Hong Kong’s new industries.
Officiating at the launch ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong highlighted the efforts of both the nation and the city in promoting new industrialization, describing it as a concrete embodiment of the integration of technological and industrial innovation, and the foundation for developing a new type of real economy.
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He added that promoting new industrialization is also of vital significance for the high-quality development of Hong Kong, which is at a critical stage of economic transformation.
Sun noted that Hong Kong’s new industrialization development must involve a joint effort between the government and industry, pledging that the government will act as an active promoter.
He said he hopes the alliance can actively promote collaboration among various stakeholders in the inno-tech sector, such as providing financing opportunities, and facilitating partnerships between newly listed companies in Hong Kong and local universities.
Amid various challenges hindering the city’s inno-tech development, he called for the alliance to support the government’s reform bid and chart a sustainable development path for the city’s economic transformation.
Mentioning the alliance’s mission of facilitating the city's integration into national development, Sun said he also envisions its significant role in helping Chinese mainland tech companies to go global.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok emphasized the importance of law in driving new industrialization. “It is not only the cornerstone for regulating market order and protecting intellectual property rights, but also an important safeguard for promoting technological innovation and industrial upgrading,”he said.
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He also said he was sure that the stable and transparent legal environment in Hong Kong can boost investors’ confidence and promote technological and industrial innovation.
The alliance’s first chairman, Steve Chuang Tzu-hsiung, who is also the chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, vowed to work with other parties to boost the development of new industries and explore new growth opportunities for the Hong Kong economy.
Following the launch ceremony, the alliance hosted its inaugural summit forum, inviting heavyweight speakers from the government, industry, academia, research, and investment sectors to exchange insights on Hong Kong’s innovation technology, new industries, and the development of the industrial ecosystem.
Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com
