John Lee Opens World Internet Conference, Highlighting Hong Kong's Role as an Innovation Hub

Speech by CE at World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit (with photo/video)

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit today (April 14):

Honourable Wang Yong (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), Honourable Zhuang Rongwen (Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China), Honourable Zheng Yanxiong (Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Honourable Ren Xianliang (Secretary General of the World Internet Conference), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. I'm delighted to welcome you to Hong Kong, and the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit.

And I am honoured to say that the Asia-Pacific Summit, taking place over these next two days in Hong Kong, marks the first time the World Internet Conference has held an international summit outside Mainland China.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a testament to Hong Kong's rising role as an international innovation and technology hub. It also reflects our deepening integration with our country's national development.

That will become abundantly clear over these next two days. Like the World Internet Conference itself, this Summit offers high-level dialogue for the global internet community - for you - the nearly 1 000 professionals here from 30 countries and regions.

You are senior government officials and business leaders, industry association heads, academics and researchers and professionals from different disciplines. And you're here to expand your international connections, create business opportunities and help build the interconnected digital future.

Hong Kong's rise as an I&T hub has been fast-tracked by our vibrant economy, which is powered by free trade and boasts the world's third-largest financial centre. It helps, too, that Hong Kong has long been a key business conduit between the Mainland and the rest of the world.

And it all comes together under our unique "one country, two systems" framework.

This cardinal governing principle gives Hong Kong the best of both worlds: access to the vast opportunities of the Mainland market, while maintaining the advantages of our unmatched connectivity of our common law system, free flow of information, capital, goods and people. This unmatched connectivity has brought you here.

There are many good examples. A shining example is the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster, which ranks second, globally, in the World Intellectual Property Organization's Global Innovation Index. It shows how, with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, we can converge Hong Kong's excellent research and development and world-class, international business environment, with the innovative prowess of the Mainland's technology industry.

We are building Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, which straddles the small river that separates Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The Hong Kong Park within this Co-operation Zone smartly embodies the virtues of the "one country, two systems" principle and cross-boundary co-operation.

Last month, I attended the topping-out ceremony for the Park's first three buildings - two wet laboratories and a talent accommodation complex. The Park will enter its operational phase this year, with the first tenants - from life and health technology, artificial intelligence, to data science and other pillar industries - moving in.

The development of another five buildings is in full swing. We have earmarked some US$500 million to expedite the Park's two-phase development.

We need, of course, strategic companies and talent to take full advantage of the Park's opportunities - and other of Hong Kong's far-reaching prospects. And we're getting them. Under the enhanced talent admission regime we rolled out in 2022, we have already approved more than 300 000 talent admission applications. Over 200 000 of them, i.e. two-thirds, have already arrived here.

Meanwhile, over 80 strategic enterprises from around the world in the booming industries of life and health technology, AI and data science, fintech and more, have joined us. They will invest over US$6 million and create over 20 000 jobs here in the coming years.

The Park is situated in the Northern Metropolis, an entirely new economic engine for Hong Kong. The Northern Metropolis, which makes up one-third of Hong Kong's area, straddles our land boundary with Shenzhen.

I'm confident that our collaborative efforts with Shenzhen, and throughout the Greater Bay Area, will see the rise of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone as a world-class I&T hub, creating a critical source of new quality productive forces for the country.

AI is central to Hong Kong Park's research and development. It's no less central to Hong Kong's future.

In December last year, the first phase of Cyberport's AI Supercomputing Centre became operational. Hong Kong's digital technology flagship, Cyberport is home to more than 330 start-ups specialising in AI and big data.

Hong Kong is determined to maximise AI's immense potential for new industrialisation, and to further society's digital transformation.

We have, for example, set up funding schemes to help local manufacturers switch to smart manufacturing and strategic industries to establish smart production facilities here in Hong Kong.

And our HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, amounting to nearly US$1.3 billion, channels market capital to invest in industries of strategic importance, including AI and robotics.

There's more. We aim to establish, by the next financial year, the Hong Kong AI R&D Institute, having reserved nearly US$130 million to get it up and running. The Institute will spearhead Hong Kong's R&D and drive AI-based industrial applications.

AI will also promote smart government. Not only driving document digitalisation and automation, and payments and business processes, but, more important, how we go about making policy and delivering public services.

All that, and much more, will fuel discussion and debate at today's main forum and the three sub-forums taking place tomorrow.

This Summit matters. Co-operation matters. Especially during these challenging times to geopolitics and trade relations. Hong Kong champions free trade and multilateralism. We believe in teamwork and offer a range of welcoming programmes for investors, companies, researchers and other strategic talent. Hong Kong welcomes all business interests from those who are keen to pursue development with us. In this global city, we will make a decided difference for you, and your future.

I am grateful to the World Internet Conference for hosting the Asia-Pacific Summit here in Hong Kong. Grateful, too, to our Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and other government offices for organising this high-profile global event.

I wish you all an inspiring Summit, and the best of business, and health, through this endlessly challenging, but promising, year.

Thank you.

Speech by CE at World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit (with photo/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CE at World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government departments conduct joint enforcement operation during mega event

During a mega event held on February 28 and today (March 1), a joint enforcement operation with the Hong Kong Customs (Customs), the Immigration Department (ImmD), the Hong Kong Police Force (Police), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) was conducted to combat the sale of infringing goods by mobile hawkers, illegal worker, unlicensed hawkers and illegal hawking activities in the vicinity of the Kai Tak Sports Park.

During the operation, Customs officers conducted test-buy operations and suspected that four mobile hawkers were visitors taking up employment or establishing or joining in business in Hong Kong. The four mobile hawkers were subsequently arrested by ImmD officers on suspicion of being illegal workers. The arrested illegal workers were two men and two women, aged 22 to 49.

Customs, the ImmD, the Police, the FEHD and the LCSD will continue to step up high-profile patrol and enforcement to resolutely combat different kinds of illegal activities in the vicinity of the event venues during mega events.

Customs reminds consumers to purchase goods at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should be cautious and prudent in merchandising since the sale of counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any infringing goods commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years. Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, or establish or join in any business without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties. For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

FEHD reminds the public that, under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Chapter 132), no one may sell goods on the street unless they hold a valid hawker license issued by the department. Offenders will be prosecuted and, the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of HK$10,000 and imprisonment for six months. The goods and equipment involved will be seized and confiscated. Furthermore, if unlicensed hawkers' activities obstruct public spaces, offenders will also be prosecuted under the Summary Offences Ordinance (Chapter 228), and upon conviction, are liable to a maximum fine of HK$25,000 or imprisonment for three months.

Government departments conduct joint enforcement operation during mega event Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government departments conduct joint enforcement operation during mega event Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases