InvestHK and Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone Sign MOU to Boost Global Expansion and Innovation Collaboration.

Dongguan Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Development Zone strengthens Hong Kong strategic deployment and helps enterprises expand overseas via Hong Kong

​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Dongguan Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and held a meeting today (August 7) to strengthen collaboration and establish a regular co-operation mechanism to support enterprises in Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone in expanding globally via Hong Kong.

Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone is a core innovation engine within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Led by Huawei, the zone has developed a smart terminal industrial cluster valued at over RMB100 billion. It focuses on the development of next-generation information technology and intelligent connected vehicle industries, as well as strategic emerging industries such as robotics and intelligent equipment manufacturing, semiconductors and integrated circuits, biomedicine and health, and new materials and new energy, with high-tech manufacturing accounting for 89 per cent of the total companies, making it a national-level green industry demonstration zone and a base for foreign trade transformation and upgrading. In terms of innovation resources, Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone is home to Mainland China's only and the world's fourth spallation neutron source. It has also attracted numerous research institutions, including the City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) and the Greater Bay Area University (Songshan Lake Campus), positioning itself at the forefront of national scientific research.

To implement the co-operation between Hong Kong and Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone, InvestHK signed an MOU today by the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, and Vice Mayor of the Dongguan Municipal People's Government and Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone, Mr Chen Qingsong, at InvestHK's head office. Representatives from both sides also had in-depth exchanges to further promote the deep integration of scientific research and industry between Dongguan and Hong Kong. Leveraging Hong Kong's advantages in international research network and intellectual property protection, combined with Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone's advanced manufacturing capabilities and comprehensive industrial infrastructure, both parties aim to jointly build a thriving innovation and technology ecosystem. As an international financial and trade centre, Hong Kong serves as both a gateway for bringing in global innovation, technology and capital to Dongguan and a springboard for supporting Dongguan enterprises in expanding into overseas markets.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Ms Lau attended the listing ceremony of a renowned pharmaceutical company, Sunshine Lake Pharma, from Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This event highlighted the pathway for Mainland enterprises to access international markets through Hong Kong's capital markets. Since its establishment in 2000, InvestHK has assisted over 7 700 enterprises from the Mainland and around the world in setting up or expanding in Hong Kong, with more than 145 successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Ms Lau said, "As one of the national-level high-tech industrial development zones, Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone has not only developed numerous cutting-edge technologies and nurtured countless innovative talent but also serves as a crucial platform for promoting the transformation of scientific achievements and industrial upgrading. We believe that this co-operation can create a synergy effect from Hong Kong's international advantages and the innovative edge of Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone, helping enterprises and talent from the zone to shine on the global stage."

Mr Chen said, "Dongguan and Hong Kong have a long history of co-operation. Today, under the guidance of the national development strategy for the GBA, the two cities are accelerating their collaborative development. This MOU signing will further stimulate the synergy effects of resource sharing and complementary advantages, deepen market connectivity, help more high-quality enterprises expand overseas, and jointly explore new opportunities for innovative co-operation."

According to the MOU, InvestHK will provide one-stop support for enterprises from Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone to leverage Hong Kong as a gateway to global markets. This includes facilitating access to international capital markets, matching them with world-class professional service partners, and offering support in areas such as office site selection, R&D implementation and talent acquisition. By integrating resources from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, InvestHK aims to provide comprehensive assistance to help enterprises expand financing channels and enhance the global influence of their brands and technologies. At the same time, both parties will establish a collaboration mechanism to pool policies, funding, and professional resources, promoting the industrialisation and commercialisation of innovative achievements and jointly creating an internationally competitive ecosystem for innovative enterprises.

Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone also opened a Songshan Lake Science City Hong Kong Operations Centre yesterday (August 6) at the InnoCentre in Hong Kong. This initiative aims to foster collaboration and exchange between Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone and Hong Kong in the technology industry, actively supporting the major strategic deployment of the GBA. InvestHK's leadership team also attended the unveiling ceremony to explore new opportunities for deepening collaboration and exchange.

Looking ahead, InvestHK will continue to work with Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone to deepen co-operation in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, talent exchange, and overseas expansion. Through collaborative efforts, the two parties aim to strengthen connection within the GBA, jointly creating a platform for enterprises to go global.

To download event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720328219423.

Dongguan Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Development Zone strengthens Hong Kong strategic deployment and helps enterprises expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Dongguan Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Development Zone strengthens Hong Kong strategic deployment and helps enterprises expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Dongguan Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Development Zone strengthens Hong Kong strategic deployment and helps enterprises expand overseas via Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses

Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.

Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.

The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:

(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.

(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.

"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.

To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.

Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.

Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.

Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.

Source: AI-found images