Yin Hejun, Vice Minister of Science and Technology received a visiting delegation from the Hong Kong Professionals and Senior Executives Association (HKPASEA). Headed by Chan Siu Hung, HKPASEA President and Managing Director for the CLP Holdings Limited in China, the delegation consisted of 29 members, including members of the Chinese People‘s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from Hong Kong, representatives of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, public institutions, leading industrial groups and well-known enterprises.  

Yin briefed the guests on the current status of cooperation in science and technology between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. He stressed the important role of the Mainland-Hong Kong Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation, and affirmed his Ministry’s support for Hong Kong to host the InnoTech Expo 2016, and noted the Ministry’s pragmatic cooperation with the Hong Kong’s Innovation and Technology Bureau in youth innovation and entrepreneurship. Yin pointed out that China made significant achievements in science and technology during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), R&D investment, patent applications and grants, academic papers, basic research, high-tech and industrial development. He also introduced the requirements of the National Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation; the goals and measures of implementing an innovation-driven development strategy during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. He hoped that professionals from all fields in Hong Kong would play a unique role and actively participate in the national scientific and technological innovation system and contribute to the common prosperity of mainland and Hong Kong.

Chan expressed his gratitude to the Ministry for its support of technological innovation in Hong Kong over the years and outlined that Hong Kong can play a unique role in R&D finance and the building of a research hub. He wished the two sides would further leverage Hong Kong’s advantages in science and technology and strengthen pragmatic cooperation in line with national policies. 

The two sides also held in-depth discussions on various topics, including youth innovation and entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation through science and technology, attracting Hong Kong businesses to invest more in scientific research, and enabling Hong Kong to build up platforms for international cooperation.