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Exclusive | Hong Kong’s R&D investments pay off with Beijing’s go-ahead for health tech hub in Greater Bay Area
- City leader Carrie Lam expected to unveil details of innovation hub in coming policy address
- Beijing counting on city to attract top talent to develop technology for health care services
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Beijing has given Hong Kong the nod to lead the development of a health technology hub in the Greater Bay Area, a move which promises to unleash the sector’s multibillion-dollar potential, the Post has learned.
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The new role will build on research and development already taking place in the city and open the way for innovation in biomedical technology across a wide range of areas such as drugs, genetic science, medical devices and traditional Chinese medicine.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is expected to highlight the city’s fresh mission and provide details when she delivers the last policy address of her term on Wednesday, according to a source close to her office.
“Beijing has finally agreed that Hong Kong should take a leading role to develop a hub in the Greater Bay Area for innovation in technologies to offer better health care services,” the source said. “The bay area will become a testing ground for Hong Kong.”
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Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong province make up the Greater Bay Area, China’s ambitious plan to create a hi-tech economic zone to rival Silicon Valley in the United States.
The source said that in her policy address, Lam would honour pledges she made when she took office five years ago and pave the way for Hong Kong’s long-term development. She has not indicated yet if she will stand for re-election next year.
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