Speech by SITI at Opening Ceremony of HK Tech 300 Expo
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Opening Ceremony of HK Tech 300 Expo today (May 23):
Chairman Ngai (Chairman of the Council, City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Mr Michael Ngai), President Boey (President and University Distinguished Professor of CityU, Professor Freddy Boey), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today at the opening ceremony of the HK Tech 300 Expo and the launch ceremony of the HK Tech 300 International Start-up Competition.
I would like to first commend City University of Hong Kong and its partners for their instrumental role in supporting young talent and nurturing deep-tech start-ups in our community. Today at the Expo, I am delighted to see approximately 300 innovative start-ups and projects incubated by the HK Tech 300 programme. These initiatives demonstrate their success in translating research and innovative ideas into practical applications. I am particularly encouraged to see the programme expanding its footprint into Mainland China, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
Over the years, the Government has implemented various policies and made significant investments to nurture and enhance support for start-ups. For example, the $10 billion Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme was launched in 2023 to fund, on a matching basis, research teams from universities with good potential to become successful start-ups to transform and commercialise their R&D (research and development) outcomes. I am pleased to see that several awarded CityU projects have already shown promising development and I look forward to seeing their research results in successful market applications.
To attract more venture capital to co-invest in local I&T (innovation and technology) start-ups, we launched the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund enhanced scheme recently by redeploying up to $1.5 billion to set up funds jointly with the market, also on a matching basis, to invest in start-ups of strategic industries, thereby empowering start-ups with more financing support. We are also preparing for the launch of the Pilot I&T Accelerator Scheme to attract professional start-up service providers with proven track records in and beyond Hong Kong to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong to foster the robust growth of start-ups and enhance the I&T ecosystem.
As I always emphasise, interactive collaboration between the Government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors is essential for Hong Kong's I&T development. CityU and the HK Tech 300 programme play a crucial role in this, creating a vibrant ecosystem that fosters cross-disciplinary, cross-sector and cross-industry collaboration. We must continue our efforts to work together to support our young entrepreneurs, providing them with the necessary resources, mentorship and opportunities they need to turn their ideas into impactful solutions, further bolstering the development of Hong Kong as an international I&T hub.
The start-up journey is undoubtedly challenging, but with the right direction and enthusiasm, even a small idea can have a significant impact and benefit society. I encourage all of you to stay creative and innovative, and I look forward to witnessing our start-ups to grow into gazelles, unicorns or even industry giants in the near future.
In closing, may I wish you a fruitful and inspiring experience over the next two days at the HK Tech 300 Expo. Thank you very much.
Speech by SITI at Opening Ceremony of HK Tech 300 Expo Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by CE at 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit (with video)
Following is the video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the 2026 WAIC UP! Global Summit today (January 16):
Distinguished guests, friends from the world of AI, ladies and gentlemen,
A very warm welcome to Hong Kong. It is a pleasure to join you today, at this year's WAIC UP! Global Summit.
A gathering that brings together top experts, industry pioneers and academic leaders, the WAIC UP! Global Summit is a platform under the renowned World Artificial Intelligence Conference. I'm glad to add that the Summit is held for the very first time in Hong Kong this year. The theme of this Summit, "WAKE UP MORE!", underscores the infinite possibilities of artificial intelligence. We must harness the power of AI, not just to innovate, but to build - to build more inclusive economies, more resilient communities, and a more sustainable future for all.
The Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development supports Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, as well as an international hub for high-calibre talent.
Hong Kong is moving at full steam to develop into an international I&T centre. Central to this vision is our commitment to advancing the development of AI. Our approach is multifaceted, built upon the solid pillars of government investment, world-class research, strategic infrastructure, and a dynamic, open market.
Under the unique "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong is the only world city that converges both the China advantage and the global advantage. We are also the only city that counts as many as five universities in the world's top 100. Our institutions equip Hong Kong's next generation with the versatility and knowledge key for future development. They also bring together a world of academics, researchers and talent to contribute to our ever-growing research and innovation capabilities.
We reached a significant milestone in our innovation journey, just last month, with the official opening of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. We will develop the Hong Kong Park into a world-class hub for technological innovation that connects the Mainland with the international community. It will become an important source for fostering and advancing new quality productive forces for China, our country.
Accelerating the flow of talent, data and capital, the Hong Kong Park will allow AI projects to rapidly progress from fundamental research in Hong Kong, to commercialisation and large-scale application in the broader market.
Last September, we launched the Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to subsidise universities in attracting top-notch scientific researchers from the world in AI, and other fields, to come to Hong Kong to spearhead basic research in frontier technologies.
We have also earmarked HK$1 billion for the establishment of the Hong Kong AI Research and Development (R&D) Institute this year, to facilitate upstream AI R&D, the midstream and downstream R&D outcomes, and the expansion of use cases.
In addition, we have taken a concrete step within the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government by establishing a new AI Efficacy Enhancement Team. More than just showcasing our resolve to AI development, this team has a clear mission - to co-ordinate all government departments in applying AI technology, and to explore process re-engineering and promote technological reform. This will significantly improve government efficacy to better meet public demands, through the important tool of AI.
Ladies and gentlemen, in this era of rapid technological transformation, Hong Kong is in a distinct position. With the robust rule of law, a welcoming business environment, and a vibrant multicultural setting, Hong Kong is the perfect incubator for scientific exploration and technological breakthroughs.
Let us leverage today's summit as a springboard for deeper partnerships. Together, we can pioneer the technologies, establish the standards, and forge the future we wish to see - an AI-empowered future that is equitable, sustainable, and prosperous for all.
I wish you all a most fruitful and inspiring summit. Thank you very much.
Source: AI-found images
