Welcome remarks by SITI at LEAP East 2026 Opening Ceremony
Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the LEAP East 2026 Opening Ceremony today (July 8):
Your Excellency Minister Alswaha (Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, Mr Abdullah Alswaha), Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to Hong Kong! It is my great pleasure to join all of you today for the LEAP East 2026 – the first time the LEAP technology conference is being held outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I would like to thank Your Excellency Minister Alswaha for extending LEAP from Saudi Arabia to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government is honoured to support this landmark international event.
Standing here today, I am reminded of my duty visit to Saudi Arabia in 2024 and the pleasant experience at LEAP in Riyadh, where the first ever Hong Kong Pavilion was set up there. My visit was of course very impressive. It set in motion the new chapter for the innovation and technology (I&T) collaboration between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.
Today, as we are hosting LEAP East in Hong Kong, we are delighted to welcome over 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors, over 400 investors, and over 35 000 visitors from 30 countries and regions, together strong participation from 14 provinces and cities from the Chinese Mainland. Don't forget this is the first time the LEAP organises technology conference outside the Saudi Arabia. This international gathering reflects the rising global I&T momentum, and Hong Kong is proud to serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" for international exchanges.
Guided by the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint promulgated in 2022, we are now building a comprehensive I&T ecosystem with strategic focus on life and health technologies, AI and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and energy and so on. Our vision remains very clear – to develop Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. Now please allow me to update you on Hong Kong's latest I&T scene.
Being home to five of the world's top 100 universities, Hong Kong is internationalised with strong R&D (research and development) capabilities. Our flagship InnoHK research platform now has supported 38 laboratories in collaboration with more than 30 world-renowned universities and research institutes from 12 economies, in collaboration with many research scientists from different parts of the world. Now the research laboratories have put together over 3 000 international talents. The laboratories focus on several important areas in addition to life and health technologies, robotics and AI. The new laboratories has recently expanded to sustainable development, advanced manufacturing, energy and materials. We welcome the top universities and research institutes from Saudi Arabia and around the world to join us on this meaningful journey.
Our digital infrastructure is also advancing rapidly to support future AI growth. In addition to Cyberport's AI Supercomputing Centre, which I mentioned at LEAP 2024, the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster under construction now will provide computing power of 180,000 PFLOPS around 2032, a thirty-six-fold increase that will position Hong Kong as an international data hub.
At the same time, Hong Kong's strategic innovation platforms are taking shape. The Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone opened last December, together with its extension, San Tin Technopole, are integral pillars of our nation's overarching strategy to build a self-reliant, world-class innovation and technology ecosystem.
The HKSAR Government's commitment to I&T is further demonstrated through funding support, including three so-called HK$10 billion funding initiatives, more than USD3.8 billion in total. These include the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme to accelerate commercialisation of R&D outcomes; the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme to support smart production facilities; and the I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, a fund-of-funds to channel more market capital into the emerging strategic industries.
Our efforts are bearing fruit. The number of start-ups in Hong Kong has surged by 40 per cent since 2021, reaching 5 200 in 2025. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster, ranked first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025. Hong Kong ranked fourth globally in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025, and what is more, ranked second globally in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has opened extraordinary opportunities for technological development, digital transformation, and new industries. Under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong enjoys the unparalleled advantages of strong support from our Motherland while remaining closely connected to the world. We are the ideal gateway for Mainland enterprises to go global, and for overseas, including Saudi Arabian, Middle East enterprises to venture into the GBA (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) and the boarder Mainland market. With our global network, pivotal role in the Belt and Road Initiative, and position within the GBA's 88-million-population market, Hong Kong is uniquely placed to support overseas companies seeking global collaboration, R&D collaboration, and access to Chinese and Asian markets. Indeed, in the past several years, we have facilitated nearly 700, leading or high-potential I&T enterprises to establish or expand their presence in Hong Kong.
Ladies and gentlemen, innovation is ultimately creating meaningful value and contributing to the betterment of humankind. Hong Kong stands ready to work with partners from Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and around the world to build new bridges and shape a sustainable, innovative future. I invite you to experience our vibrant I&T ecosystem and explore the opportunities that await. Hong Kong offers inspiration at every hour, and I hope you will feel it throughout your stay in Hong Kong.
Finally, may I wish LEAP East every success. I wish we work together, leap forward, and make significant strides together. Thank you very much.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, delivers a speech at the LEAP East 2026 opening ceremony today (July 8). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by PSITI at Second Global Innovation Show and Global Innovation Summit - Hong Kong
Following is the speech by the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi, at the Second Global Innovation Show and Global Innovation Summit - Hong Kong today (August 25):
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today at the 2nd Global Innovation Show and Global Innovation Summit (GIS) - Hong Kong. I would like to thank the organisers for bringing together innovation leaders, industry experts and entrepreneurs from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and around the world to exchange insights and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Based in Hong Kong, drawing upon the strengths of our country and engaging with the world, GIS brings together innovation resources from different places and strengthens connections among the cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). By bringing together the respective strengths of different places in technology, capital and markets, GIS provides a valuable platform for technological innovation and industry collaboration. This aligns well with Hong Kong's role as a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland and the world, and our development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre.
This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan period. The Plan reaffirms support for Hong Kong's development into an international I&T centre, while placing strong emphasis on technological innovation, industrial innovation and the development of new quality productive forces. Against this backdrop, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is pressing ahead with new industrialisation, fostering strategic emerging and future industries while supporting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. Our strategic focus includes life and health technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy. By promoting the integration of technological and industrial innovation, we seek to accelerate the commercialisation of research and development (R&D) outcomes and develop new engines for Hong Kong's high-quality economic growth.
Our efforts are bearing fruit. Manufacturing and new industrialisation-related industries accounted for 3.8 per cent of Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This reflects that the Government's new industrialisation initiatives are playing an increasingly important and positive role in promoting economic diversification and enhancing Hong Kong's overall competitiveness. We are also formulating Hong Kong's medium to long-term development plan of new industrialisation, taking into account the National 15th Five-Year Plan, opportunities for industrial synergy in the GBA, as well as Hong Kong's own industrial foundation and advantages.
To provide fertile soil for our I&T development, we are building a comprehensive I&T ecosystem anchored by three major I&T Parks and five key R&D institutions. In particular, the Loop Hong Kong Park is an important platform for I&T collaboration in the GBA and is envisioned to develop into a world-class innovation platform connecting international companies with the Chinese Mainland. As at July 2026, the Loop Hong Kong Park has already attracted over 100 technology enterprises and institutions to sign tenancy agreements, with its first two completed wet laboratory buildings leasing all available floor area. The adjacent San Tin Technopole will serve as a natural extension of the Loop Hong Kong Park, providing a large piece of land that can help accelerate the commercialisation of R&D results by providing industrial space for prototyping, pilot and mass production.
We are also providing targeted support to accelerate technology commercialisation and industrial development. The $10 billion New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme provides matching funds for enterprises in designated industries to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong, while the $10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund channels market capital to invest in emerging and future industries of strategic importance. Earlier this year, we also launched the New Industrialisation Elite Enterprises Nurturing Scheme, focusing on supporting high-growth enterprises that contribute to the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong, with the goal of nurturing emerging and future industry enterprises.
At the same time, we are deepening I&T and industrial collaboration within the GBA. Under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong is proactively integrating into and serving the overall national development, while giving full play to our unique strengths as an international city. By leveraging Hong Kong's strengths in R&D and international connectivity, we can foster deeper integration of technological and industrial innovation and create greater opportunities for enterprises across the region. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster ranked first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025, demonstrating the strong innovation capabilities of the GBA.
We are continuing to deepen this collaboration. In September 2024, the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) signed the Co-operation Agreement on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and the Promotion of New Industrialisation, supporting Hong Kong in developing new quality productive forces and promoting new industrialisation according to local conditions, while strengthening exchanges and promoting co-operation in industries where both sides have clear advantages.
Building on this foundation, our co-operation took another important step forward last month, when the HKSAR Government and MIIT signed the Co-operation Agreement on Advancing the Joint Establishment of Manufacturing Innovation Centre by the Ministry and Hong Kong. As announced in this year's Budget, it has been proposed to reserve funding to establish in Hong Kong the first national manufacturing innovation centre. Focusing on next-generation power semiconductor technologies, the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute will undertake the important task of taking the lead to operate the innovation centre.
For enterprises, these developments open up new opportunities to leverage the complementary strengths of Hong Kong and the GBA. Hong Kong can serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", helping Chinese Mainland enterprises connect with international innovation resources while providing overseas enterprises with a gateway to the GBA and the broader Chinese Mainland market. In this way, we can better leverage Hong Kong's strengths to serve our country's needs, while creating new room for development for enterprises in Hong Kong and beyond.
Looking ahead, the HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen our I&T ecosystem, advance new industrialisation and deepen synergy with our partners in the GBA. We welcome I&T enterprises and innovation partners from the Chinese Mainland and around the world to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages, tap into the opportunities of the GBA and grow with our expanding I&T ecosystem.
By working together and leveraging our complementary strengths, we can contribute to developing the GBA into an international I&T hub with global influence and create new momentum for high-quality development. I wish GIS every success and all of you a rewarding and fruitful exchange. Thank you very much.
Source: AI-found images
Speech by PSITI at Second Global Innovation Show and Global Innovation Summit - Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Source: AI-found images
