'Northern Metropolis lays foundation for tech boost'

The Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Kevin Choi on Wednesday said high-standard laboratories in the Northern Metropolis have filled a previous gap, boosting science and technology development.

In an interview for an RTHK TV programme produced jointly with the Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, Choi said two wet-laboratory buildings in the Hetao Industrial Zone have been fully leased.

"These are top-level laboratories capable of conducting experiments involving infectious viruses," he told Vision 15: Hong Kong’s Chapter.

"The enterprises best suited to use them are those working on life sciences, AI, embodied intelligence and new materials and energy – many of which have already been attracted to the Hetao Hong Kong Park.

"These enterprises have very high specifications for electricity supply, ventilation, and wastewater and exhaust gas treatment. In the past, Hong Kong lacked this kind of wet laboratory design."

Choi, who also chairs Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, said enterprises attracted to the innovation park are of different scale.

The park encourages leading enterprises to drive the growth of start-ups, thereby creating a more complete innovation and technology ecosystem, he added.

Choi acknowledged challenge in the flow of talent brought by geopolitics, but he said the SAR government is confident in turning it into opportunities.

"Overseas enterprises – industry leaders or large companies – are in need of a place that is safe, stable and well-connected to China for their research and business development," he said.

"Hong Kong, under the current geopolitical landscape, offers exactly that – a secure, reliable and international place that can attract foreign companies to invest or set up operations here."

With a planned university town, the Northern Metropolis is expected to become a talent hub, he said.

Meanwhile, enterprises running business in the Northern Metropolis have expressed confidence in the zone.

A multinational company from Silicon Valley that provides services in digital copyrights protection said the Northern Metropolis offers a large working space and is close to Shenzhen, which would facilitate talent exchange.

It aims to achieve a tenfold growth in business over the next five years.

Edited by Tony Sabine ...