Hong Kong Park Opens as Key Innovation Hub in Hetao Cooperation Zone

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (December 22) officiated at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (Hetao Co-operation Zone). The Hetao Co-operation Zone is one of the four major co-operation platforms among the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The Hong Kong Park is envisioned to develop into a world-class hub for technological innovation that connects the Chinese Mainland with the international community, and to serve as an important source for fostering and advancing new quality productive forces for the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Lee remarked that, "The development objective of the Hetao Co-operation Zone is set out to become a world-class innovation platform. As a major national technological innovation co-operation zone, it spans across two different social systems geographically, leveraging the strengths of the respective economic frameworks and judicial regimes."

"We will continue to drive forward the construction and development of the Hong Kong Park by optimising institutional integration, strengthening policy support, actively attracting high-quality enterprises and world-class research teams, etc. I am confident that the Hetao Co-operation Zone will emerge as a bridgehead and testing ground for Hong Kong's I&T development. It will also become a showcase for pioneering policies within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and across the global innovation landscape. It is a powerful Hong Kong engine for growth."

The Hong Kong Park is developed in batches under two phases. Out of the eight buildings in the first batch of Phase 1 development, two wet-laboratory enabled buildings and a talent accommodation building have been completed, providing about 32 000 square metres of floor area and 100 apartment units respectively. Over 60 institutions and enterprises have already begun moving into the wet laboratory buildings, while the talent accommodation welcomed their first batch of tenants this month. Construction works of the foundation and superstructures for the remaining five buildings have commenced and will be completed progressively starting from 2027 onwards.

Meanwhile, the planning and development layout for the Park's Phase 2 development has been finalised. The two phases together will offer a total floor area of up to 2 million square meters. Functionally, the Park will be divided into different technological zones focusing on pillar industries such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, new technologies and advanced manufacturing, thereby fostering the integrated development of upstream, midstream and downstream industries and building a comprehensive I&T industry chain.

To expedite the construction works of the Park, the Park Company has rolled out an expression of interest exercise to gauge the market's interest in selected plots of the remaining land of Phase 1 development, with a view to leveraging market forces to develop the Park in an accelerated and efficient manner. The Park Company received 27 responses and is currently analysing them with a view to preparing for launching the land plots in an orderly manner starting from 2026. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will carefully consider releasing the land parcels to the market through tender or other land disposal models, thereby achieving the objective of making best use of market resources to jointly develop the Park.

At the ceremony, Mr Lee also announced the official commencement of the "Western Cross-River Link Bridge Project" which will connect the two parks in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. This project will open up the transportation network of the Hetao Co-operation Zone, effectively facilitating the cross-boundary flow of personnel and showcasing the advantages of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong boundary facilities and innovative management policies. The two sides will adopt a design concept of integrating the cross-boundary bridge with the surrounding ecological environment and with an emphasis on low-carbon technology, safety and convenience, and a pleasant scenery, as well as adopting a "single-span across the river" approach in construction, which will serve as a new landmark to connect the two parks under the concept of "one zone, two parks" while creating an innovation network in the Greater Bay Area.

The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zhou Ji, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Mr Luo Huangho, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, and the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry and Chairman of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, Mr Kevin Choi, also attended the opening ceremony.

Mr Lee also visited the wet laboratory buildings of the Hong Kong Park to learn about its facilities, environment and the facilitation measures provided for the tenant enterprises by the Park Company. He also exchanged views with representatives of the I&T enterprises which have already set foot in the Park.

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE officiates at opening ceremony of Hong Kong Park in the Loop Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Police launch new features on "eTraffic Ticket Platform"

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) launched a series of new features today (June 15) on the "e-Traffic Ticket Platform" ("eTTP") (www.etrafficticket.gov.hk) to facilitate members of the public and the transport sector in handling matters related to electronic traffic fixed penalty notices (FPNs).

The digitalisation of traffic FPNs and the "eTTP" have been operating smoothly since their launch in the middle of last year. To meet the fleet management needs of the transport sector and further facilitate the handling of FPNs against illegal parking by the public, the Police have enhanced the platform system and introduced the following four new features:

(1) Introducing multiple roles

The "eTTP" has introduced multiple roles, such as "Agent", "Agency Company" and "Designated Employee" to facilitate fleet management. Registered vehicle owners or corporate account holders can authorise designated agents or employees to handle FPNs against illegal parking for vehicles under their management, enabling more effective monitoring of the FPN status of the relevant vehicles.

(2) "Vehicle-specific QR Code"

"Vehicle-specific QR Codes" can be generated for download on the "eTTP". Upon scanning the relevant QR code via the "eTTP""s mobile application, on-duty drivers can record their driving hours. If an FPN against illegal parking is issued during that period, the on-duty drivers will receive a push notification from the application, allowing them to view the details and settle fines directly.

This new feature has been integrated with the "HKeToll Commercial Vehicle Driver" mobile application QR code, which was designed by the Transport Department for taxis. By simply scanning the "Vehicle-specific QR code", on-duty drivers can activate both systems simultaneously.

(3) Application for viewing illegal parking photos

Members of the public may apply through the "eTTP" to view photos taken by police officers during the issuance of the FPNs against illegal parking.

(4) Disputing all types of traffic FPNs through the "eTTP"

In addition to existing channels, members of the public can dispute all types of traffic FPNs directly through the "eTTP" and upload supporting documents based on the circumstances of their case. As legal proceedings are involved, identity authentication and digital signing via "iAM Smart+" are required.

To allow sufficient time for members of the public to adapt to the digitalisation of traffic FPNs, the HKPF will continue to maintain the "dual track transitional arrangement" for the time being by issuing both electronic and paper FPNs simultaneously. The HKPF will monitor the implementation status to determine a timetable for full implementation of digitalisation.

The HKPF will also continue to identify and introduce more citizen-centric features to the "eTTP". For more information and relevant user guides of the new features, please visit the dedicated website of the "eTTP" or call the hotline at 181 181.

The HKPF appeals to the public with the following anti-deception tips:

All traffic FPN SMS messages are issued under the SMS sender name "#HKPF-eTT"; any of those issued from other sender names are fraudulent;

All traffic FPN SMS messages or emails do not contain any hyperlinks. Members of the public should stay vigilant and avoid clicking on any suspicious hyperlinks or providing any personal information; and

The thematic portal of the "eTTP" has a domain ending with ".gov.hk". Websites that do not end with ".gov.hk" are not government websites.

Police launch new features on "eTraffic Ticket Platform" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases