Paul Chan Advocates Closer Cooperation Between Shaanxi and Hong Kong During Xi'an Visit

2026-06-26 22:57 Last Updated At：23:23

FS continues visit to Xi'an

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (June 26) continued his visit programme in Xi'an.

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FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr Chan today called on the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, and had an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong. Mr Chan said that Shaanxi has gathered innovative resources, possesses strong research capabilities, and has complete and thriving industrial chains in areas such as national hard technology research and development, aerospace and aviation, and major equipment manufacturing. Hong Kong, with its advantages as an international financial centre and in high-end professional services under "one country, two systems", together with its common law system and free port status, is an important hub connecting the Mainland and international markets.

He said that the two places can deepen co-operation in areas such as innovation and research and development, commercialisation of research outcomes, cultivation of innovative enterprises and listing financing, as well as talent exchanges and higher education. This would better connect Shaanxi's research and industrial strengths with Hong Kong's financial and internationalisation advantages, achieve resource sharing and mutual empowerment, enable each other's success, and jointly serve the country's development of new quality productive forces and high-quality development. He invited Xi’an enterprises to form delegations to visit Hong Kong, exchange and connect with Hong Kong enterprises and the investment community, and explore further co-operation.

In the morning, Mr Chan visited Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), where he met with the President of NPU, Professor Song Baowei, and held a discussion session with innovation and technology enterprises. He then delivered a speech to more than 200 teachers, students and alumni, engaging in in-depth exchanges on promoting hard technology innovation, commercialisation of research outcomes, and deepening co-operation between Xi'an and Hong Kong in scientific research and industrial development.

In his speech, Mr Chan pointed out that NPU students have demonstrated, in different ways, a spirit of craftsmanship in perfecting technologies and products. However, for technology to move from the laboratory to the world, it no longer depends only on whether the product is advanced, but also on whether it can withstand the tests of supply chain restructuring and alignment with international standards.

He said that globalisation is shifting from the previous "efficiency first" model to one that places equal emphasis on "efficiency and resilience", with supply chain security, self-reliance in core technologies, and cross-boundary regulation becoming key considerations. Against this backdrop, the country is strengthening basic research and original innovation, supporting breakthroughs with long-term accumulated "slow variables". At the same time, areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials and quantum technology are crossing the threshold of industrialisation, forming synergistic development among "technology clusters" and driving the development of new industries, new models and new growth drivers.

Mr Chan pointed out that Xi'an has a profound foundation in hard technology and is an important fertile ground for the accumulation of related technologies, with its achievements being accelerated for civilian application. Hong Kong, with its common law system, free port advantages and international platform, brings together capital, talent and professional services, to help connect technological achievements with international markets, and promote "Xi'an R&D, Hong Kong empowerment, global application".

He encouraged young people to be professionally strong and broad-minded, and to actively enter the intersection of "finance + technology". He also encouraged them to base themselves in the country and look to the world, seize opportunities amid changes, enhance their sustainable competitiveness, and grasp the broad opportunities brought about by technological development.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan visited the Xi'an High-tech Industries Development Zone (Xi'an High-tech Zone). As a national-level high-tech industries development zone, the Xi'an High-tech Zone focuses on strategic emerging industries such as electronic information, high-end equipment, new energy and new materials. The Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and Invest Hong Kong also joined the visit.

Mr Chan and his delegation visited enterprises engaged respectively in advanced energy storage, optoelectronic integration, metal additive manufacturing, and high-end equipment inspection and testing, to learn about their latest progress in frontier technology research and development and industrialisation. Mr Chan then held a discussion session with representatives of 25 enterprises in the Xi'an High-tech Zone, exchanging views on promoting hard technology innovation, facilitating deeper integration among industry, academia, research and application, and expanding co-operation between Hong Kong and Shaanxi in areas such as technology and innovation, finance and professional services.

During the discussion session, a number of enterprises expressed strong interest and willingness to access international capital through Hong Kong and further expand into overseas markets. Mr Chan welcomed them to come to Hong Kong for fundraising and financing, global expansion, and technology research and development and advanced manufacturing. He asked the OASES, the HKIC, HKEX and others to fully connect with them and provide support.

Mr Chan will continue his itinerary in Xi'an tomorrow (June 27) and attend the inaugural Western Commercial Aerospace Conference.

NPCSC Authorizes Hong Kong to Manage Huanggang Port Area, Enhancing Connectivity with Mainland China.

NPCSC authorized Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to exercise jurisdiction over Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at Huanggang Port

The 23rd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPCSC) today (June 26) passed the "Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Authorizing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Exercise Jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port" (the Decision). The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) expresses its sincere gratitude to the Central Authorities for their staunch support in establishing the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area.

A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, "The NPCSC's Decision fully reflects the Central Authorities' high regard and support for Hong Kong to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. It is of great strategic significance for strengthening the infrastructure connectivity between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, enhancing interactions between the people of, and economic and trade activities between the two places, as well as advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This is a clear demonstration of the advantages of 'one country, two systems'."

The HKSAR Government has been proactively aligning with national development strategies. Working closely with the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, the HKSAR Government has adopted a forward-looking strategy to upgrade the infrastructure of land boundary control points (BCPs) between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, deepen the reform on the mode of boundary clearance, and actively utilise innovation and technology to enhance the convenience of clearance. The Huanggang Port redevelopment project is one of the key initiatives that the HKSAR Government is participating in the implementation of national development strategies. The redeveloped Huanggang Port will be positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land BCP between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It will implement the co-location arrangement and the novel "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" mode to further enhance the passenger clearance experience and efficiency. Clearance time at the new Huanggang Port will be significantly reduced from around 30 minutes at the existing Lok Ma Chau/ Huanggang Port to approximately five minutes. The design flow of the new Huanggang Port will increase to 200 000 passenger trips per day, and could be further increased to about 300 000 upon the future commissioning of the Northern Link Spur Line of the MTR Corporation Limited.

The HKSAR Government expresses its gratitude to the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government for their co-operation and continued support. Having discussed and reached a consensus on matters relating to the scope and area of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area, as well as clearance mode at the port, the HKSAR Government and the People's Government of Guangdong Province made submissions to the Central Government regarding the implementation of the co-location arrangement at the Huanggang Port, proposing that it be submitted to the NPCSC for examination.

According to the Decision, the NPCSC has decided as follows:

1. The HKSAR is authorized to exercise, with effect from the day on which the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port are commissioned, jurisdiction over the said areas in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR within the period specified in Article 3 of the Decision.

The HKSAR is to administer the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port as a closed area.

2. The areas over which the HKSAR is authorized to exercise jurisdiction comprise the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area, the deck of the Shenzhen section of the Lok Ma Chau Bridge connecting the port, the interior of the bridge box girders accessible via the bridge deck, and the surfaces of the connecting roads. The date of commissioning of the relevant areas, and their specific coordinates and area, are to be determined by the State Council. The use of the aforesaid areas is not to be altered within the period specified in Article 3 of the Decision.

3. The HKSAR Government acquires by way of a lease the right to use the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port. The term of the lease is to commence on the day on which the relevant areas are commissioned and is to expire on June 30, 2047. On the expiry of the term of the lease, with a decision of the NPCSC, the term of the lease may be renewed.

Upon receiving the determination from the State Council on the commissioning date of the Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas at the Huanggang Port, as well as the specific coordinates and area of the relevant areas, the HKSAR Government will introduce the relevant bill to the Legislative Council as soon as practicable, so as to take forward the local legislative exercise. The HKSAR Government will continue to work closely with the Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Municipality to take forward all preparatory works of the opening of the Huanggang Port at full steam, proactively align the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and contribute Hong Kong's strengths to the high-quality development of the GBA. The HKSAR Government will maintain close communication with the Shenzhen side and will make timely announcements to the public once the official opening date of the Huanggang Port is finalised, with a view to creating a more efficient and convenient clearance experience for members of the public.

Paul Chan Advocates Closer Cooperation Between Shaanxi and Hong Kong During Xi'an Visit

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