The Dream Factory of China

Source :Qianhai Communication Center

“Hong Kong will play a positive role in the development of China’s scientific and technological innovation industry, one of the national growth strategies,” said Witman Hung, principal liaison officer for Hong Kong affairs of the Qianhai authority, during an interview with China News Service.

“With support from the Central Government, Hong Kong is striving to build itself into an international innovation and technology center through cooperation with Shenzhen in the integration of financial and talent strengths of the two cities,” he said.

Qianhai is a pilot demonstration area of Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, with more than 40 percent of the 468 startups that have been incubated at the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub (E-hub) being Hong Kong-funded.

Qianhai has also rolled out a lot of innovative policies catering to Hong Kongers, including applying Hong Kong laws in resolving commercial disputes involving Hong Kong people or companies, offering a preferential personal income tax rate and low-rent housing. Some of the policies have been duplicated in other Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) cities and the country.

Hung highlighted the importance of talents in constructing the GBA and developing the sci-tech industry. “We should help talents give full play to their own advantages. Hong Kong can serve as an international talent center attracting high-end overseas talents to teach or do research in Hong Kong or adjacent cities like Shenzhen and Dongguan.”

“Hong Kong can also become an international education center. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the complicated international political and economic situation, it is hard for many mainland Ph.D. students to further their study overseas. Hong Kong is a good option for them. The colleges and universities in Hong Kong are expected to attract more mainland students and enhance their influence in Asia through enhanced cooperation with their world-renowned counterparts.” he said.

“Intellectual property rights (IPR) protection is another key to sci-tech development. There are lots of experienced IPR professionals in Hong Kong who can help Chinese companies in IPR protection.”