Hong Kong an important player in national drive for innovation and technology, poised to reap benefits from country’s growth, state official says
- Ministry of Science and Technology head Wang Zhigang and city leader John Lee took part in opening of InnoTech Expo 2022
- Lee also says local government will submit a list of recommended candidates for Beijing’s unprecedented recruitment drive for space programme
Hong Kong is an important player in the country’s technology and innovation drive and will share the benefits from national development, a mainland Chinese official has said in a video message at an exhibition opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony of the InnoTech Expo 2022, Wang Zhigang, an engineer who heads the Ministry of Science and Technology, recognised local technological contributions to the country while stressing Beijing’s support for the city.
“Hong Kong’s technological strength is an important part of the national scientific and technological innovation system. The city will surely share the benefits of national development opportunities and make new and greater contributions,” Wang said in a video message at the event.
He added that the ministry would soon renew its arrangement with the city to speed up the establishment of Hong Kong as an international science and technology innovation hub.
Wang acknowledged the city’s determination and confidence in technological development, pointing to the new measures rolled out by Lee in his maiden policy address to woo global talent.
Meanwhile, Lee said the city would submit a list of recommended payload specialist candidates to mainland authorities this month, with the China Manned Space Agency earlier launching its first recruitment drive in Hong Kong and Macau.
“Hong Kong residents joining national space missions seemed to be out of reach in the past, but mainland China has opened up chances for Hong Kong in recent years. It gives opportunities to patriotic residents,” Lee said, noting there had been an “enthusiastic” response from society.
