Strengthening Ties: Hong Kong and Thailand Collaborate on Innovation and Technology Development

Keynote speech by SITI at dinner seminar co-organised by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association in Bangkok, Thailand

Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at a dinner seminar co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and the Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association in Bangkok, Thailand, today (January 28):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. It is my pleasure to join all of you here in Bangkok, a city that blends ancient heritage with modern dynamism. Let me begin by wishing all of you a joyful and prosperous year of 2026.

In just a few weeks, we will welcome the Year of the Horse. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises vitality, speed, and the courage to break new ground. These qualities resonate deeply not only with Hong Kong's innovation and technology (I&T) development, but also with Thailand's dynamic progress in digital transformation and its ambition under the Thailand 4.0 vision.

Shared Momentum: Thailand's Digital Rise and Hong Kong's I&T Transformation

Throughout my stay in Bangkok in the past two days, I have been impressed that Thailand has made significant strides in recent years in terms of strengthening its digital infrastructure, nurturing start-ups, advancing smart manufacturing, and promoting specific sectors such as healthtech, agritech, and greentech. These developments align closely with Hong Kong's strengths and lay fertile ground for deeper collaboration between our two economies.

A Clear Blueprint: Hong Kong's Strategic I&T Vision

Hong Kong is currently moving full speed ahead in building a world-class I&T ecosystem. The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government published the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint in 2022, setting out major directions and strategies for the next five to ten years, with a clear vision to propel Hong Kong towards becoming an international I&T centre. Our focus is on industries that are strategically important to us, namely life and health technology; AI and robotics; as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy.

To accelerate Hong Kong's development into an international I&T centre, the Hong Kong SAR Government has introduced a series of forward-looking policies and measures to enhance our I&T ecosystem. Our objective is to leverage our strengths in upstream R&D (research and development), and at the same time speed up the commercialisation of R&D outcomes in the mid-stream, and promote downstream development of industries. Of most significance are three HK$10-billion initiatives - (i) the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme which fosters transformation of R&D outcome; (ii) the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme which provides matching funds for the setting up of smart production lines in Hong Kong; and (iii) the I&T Industry-Oriented Fund which encourages market capital to invest in strategic industries. Together, they represent a combined investment of roughly US$3.9 billion, which is around 121 billion Thai Baht, dedicated to driving I&T development in our city.

Hong Kong's I&T landscape is characterised by "three major I&T parks" and "five key R&D institutions". This ecosystem is designed to accelerate technological advancement, attract global talent, and strengthen the city's position as a rising international I&T hub. We are also embracing international co-operation through our InnoHK Platform, which has forged partnerships with over 30 world-renowned universities and research institutes across 12 economies, establishing 30 cutting-edge research laboratories. We welcome universities and research institutes in Thailand to join us on this meaningful venture.

New Infrastructure: A Gateway Connecting Chinese Mainland and the World

Hong Kong is the perfect destination for Thai companies that wish to connect with the Chinese Mainlandmarket. On this, I am excited to share that the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone officially opened last month. Situated right next to Shenzhen, 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. We are also delighted that the Central People's Government of China has reaffirmed its support for Hong Kong to develop into an international I&T centre in the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.

Indeed, over the past few years, the Hong Kong SAR Government has facilitated about 500 leading I&T enterprises or those with potential to develop, set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong. This clearly demonstrates Hong Kong's strategic role as a gateway for companies and investors venturing into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asian and Middle East markets.

Start-up Growth: A Launchpad for Global Entrepreneurs

Today, Hong Kong stands as one of the most dynamic and fast-growing destinations for start-ups in Asia. As of 2025, our city is home to 5 200 start-ups, an impressive increase of 11 per cent compared to last year, and a rise of around 40 per cent compared to that of 2021. More than a quarter of these founders are non-locals. This speaks volumes about Hong Kong's openness, global connectivity, and strong appeal as a launchpad for ambitious entrepreneurs from around the world.

Beyond the numbers and polices, what truly defines Hong Kong's I&T landscape is our people, our talent. Home to five of the world's top 100 universities, Hong Kong's academic excellence continues to fuel our robust R&D capability and cultivate an ever-expanding pool of I&T talent.

Besides, Hong Kong has long been known for its agility and entrepreneurship spirit. Our bilingual and business-friendly environment, simple tax system with low tax rate, and world-class logistics and infrastructure, all make Hong Kong a fertile ground for global tech talent and enterprises, including those from Thailand and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

Global Recognition: Hong Kong's Rising I&T Competitiveness

Our efforts are bearing fruit, as reflected in Hong Kong's performance in various I&T-related international rankings. Notably, Hong Kong was ranked third worldwide in the "Technology" Factor and fourth overall in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025 published by the International Institute for Management Development. Even more encouraging, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster ranked first globally for the first time in the Global Innovation Index 2025 Ranking of World's Top 100 Innovation Clusters published by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

A Year of New Possibilities

We warmly welcome our friends from Thailand to visit Hong Kong, discover the vibrant and exciting city first-hand, and explore new opportunities for collaboration. Whether in R&D, talent exchange, start-up development, or investment, Hong Kong stands ready to connect and grow with you.

My thanks go to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, InvestHK and the Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association, for organising this meaningful gathering. I wish everyone an enjoyable evening, good health and continued success in the coming Year of the Horse. Thank you.

Source: AI-found images

Keynote speech by SITI at dinner seminar co-organised by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association in Bangkok, Thailand Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Keynote speech by SITI at dinner seminar co-organised by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association in Bangkok, Thailand Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Keynote speech by SITI at dinner seminar co-organised by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and Thai-Hong Kong Trade Association in Bangkok, Thailand Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled silver worth about $6.1 million

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 27) detected a suspected smuggling case involving an outgoing cross-boundary private car at the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and seized about 219 kilograms of suspected smuggled silver with an estimated market value of about $6.1 million.

Based on risk assessment, Customs yesterday intercepted an outbound private car at the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point. Upon inspection, the batch of suspected smuggled silver was found concealed inside multiple food cans placed in the boot of the vehicle, mingled with other ordinary foodstuffs.

After an investigation, Customs arrested a 46-year-old male driver and a 40-year-old male passenger suspected to be connected with the case. They were charged with one count of attempting to export unmanifested cargo and will appear at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 29).

Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled silver worth about $6.1 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled silver worth about $6.1 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases