Hong Kong and Finland Explore Collaboration in Innovation and Technology During SITI's Visit in Helsinki

SITI continues visit to Finland

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time).

Professor Sun met with the Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland, Mr Sakari Puisto, saying that Hong Kong, possessing unique advantages under "one country, two systems", can serve as an important gateway between the international community and the Chinese Mainland. Hong Kong is striving to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. He pointed out that Finland's leading advantages in areas such as sustainable development and life sciences closely align with Hong Kong's development strategies. There was a vast scope for collaboration between the two places. Universities and research institutions in Hong Kong have favourable conditions for further expanding academic collaboration and joint innovation with relevant Finnish organisations.

Professor Sun visited the Aalto University to learn about the entrepreneurship ecosystem of the University in areas such as AI, health technology and biomaterials. The Aalto University is one of the most representative multidisciplinary universities in Finland, which promotes the developments of innovation and entrepreneurship through interdisciplinary collaboration. He also received a briefing from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), a state-owned research and technology organisation which focuses on applied research and industrial innovation, covering fields including carbon neutral solutions, digital technologies, and sustainable products and materials. Through collaboration with enterprises and government, VTT promotes the transformation of research and development (R&D) outcomes and sustainable development. Professor Sun also toured the University's magnetoencephalography laboratory to learn about the clinical application of the laboratory's R&D outcomes.

Professor Sun also attended a luncheon with representatives of the Helsinki University Hospial, Business Finland and Business Helsinki to learn about the latest developments in local health innovation and start-up incubation. Among them, the CleverHealth Network is a health innovation ecosystem led by the Helsinki University Hospital, which brings together clinicians, researchers and enterprise to promote the application of digital health, AI and health data. Its data platform supports large-scale health data analysis for more accurate diagnostics and personalised treatment. He also received a briefing on the introduction of the Health Incubator Helsinki which provides tailor coaching, testing platforms and financial support for research-based health start-ups.

On the same day, Professor Sun attended a forum organised by Healthtech Finland and the Finland Chamber of Commerce, where he highlighted the immense potential for collaboration between Hong Kong and Finland in the field of life and health technology. He said that Hong Kong possesses world-class universities and a good healthcare system and the InnoHK Research Clusters advancing areas like precision medicine and AI-assisted diagnostics, which laid a solid foundation for joint scientific research and innovation. With the support of the Government's major investments and platforms including the Life and Health Technology Research Institute, the city enables partners to promote the transformation and application of R&D outcomes and access the vast Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area market while developing next-generation medical technologies for global impact.

In the evening, Professor Sun attended a dinner reception co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London and the Finland-Hong Kong Business Association. In his keynote speech, he stated that Finland's strength in innovation finds a natural gateway in Hong Kong, where innovation can scale, capital can flow, and ideas can meet markets. Guided by the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint and backed by substantial investment, Hong Kong is building a full research-to-market I&T ecosystem—spanning life and health technologies, AI and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy — supported by world-class research capability and infrastructure, talent and strong international connectivity. As a "super connector" and "super value-adder" linking the Chinese Mainland and the world, Hong Kong offers Finnish and Nordic enterprises a key platform for opening up Asian market and global I&T collaboration.

Professor Sun concluded his visit to Finland on May 14 (Helsinki time) and will return to Hong Kong on May 15 (Hong Kong time).

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended a dinner reception co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London and the Finland-Hong Kong Business Association in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time). Photo shows Professor Sun delivering a keynote speech at the dinner reception. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended a forum organised by Healthtech Finland and Finland Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time). Photo shows Professor Sun speaking at the forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (second right), attended a luncheon hosted by representatives of the Helsinki University Hospital, the Business Finland, and the Business Helsinki in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (first right), visited the Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time) and toured the university's magnetoencephalography laboratory to learn about the clinical application of the laboratory's research and development outcomes. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (second right), visited the Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time) to learn about the entrepreneurship ecosystem of the University in areas such as AI, health technology and biomaterials. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (left), met with the Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland, Mr Sakari Puisto (right), in Helsinki, Finland on May 13 (Helsinki time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Property owner fined nearly $80,000 for not complying with removal order

An owner was convicted and fined $78,650 in total, of which $28,650 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday (May 12) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

The case involved four structures with a total area of about 82 square metres at the garden and roof of a detached house on Kwu Tung Road, Sheung Shui. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.

A spokesman for the BD said today (May 14), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety."

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: AI-found images