HK scientists urge deeper mainland ties

Further cooperation with the mainland in innovation and technology development could enhance the application of scientific research conducted in Hong Kong, the city’s leading scientists said on Tuesday.

The remarks come after President Xi Jinping issued an important instruction on Hong Kong’s I&T development last month. The president encouraged the special administrative region to develop into an international I&T hub through closer cooperation with the mainland through easier access to national scientific and research funding.

Speaking at the Hong Kong Forum on I&T cooperation between the SAR and mainland, Albert Chan Sun-chi, a founding member of the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, said it was very rewarding for scientists to see their achievements in the laboratory become practical applications.

Cooperation with the mainland will further accelerate this process, as neighboring cities in the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have better-developed manufacturing industry, he said.

Chan also advised people in I&T sectors in Hong Kong to have a humble attitude when cooperating with mainland cities.

“Don’t stick to the mindset that Hong Kong has to play a leading role,” he said. “It’s better to just cooperate with each other and bring out the best we have.”

Agreeing with Albert Chan, Hong Kong’s first academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chan Chingchuen, said cities in the Bay Area should avoid duplication in industry development and cut-throat competition. Instead, people should hold on to complementary development and maximize each other’s advantages, he said.

To further develop I&T in Hong Kong, he believes the SAR government should increase sci-tech funding and formulate plans for scientific research in accordance with national plans.

The SAR also lacks a mature incubation mechanism for scientific achievements generated in local universities, Chan Chingchuen added. Hopefully, cooperation with the mainland could help benefit this process, he added.

Lee Chack-fan, who is also a Hong Kong academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, echoed Chan’s observations. He said the mainland has a huge market. It therefore offers great prospects for combining scientific research with industry.

Cooperation with the mainland in the application of scientific research could not only improve people’s livelihoods, but also boost scientific innovation and economic development, Lee said.

This is the path to success for leading regions and countries in the world, such as Europe, the United States and Japan, he added.