Plan released on development of Shenzhen-HK tech zone

The State Council on Tuesday issued the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone to achieve synergistic development with Hong Kong parks and facilitate the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

According to the plan, by 2025 an efficient Shenzhen-Hong Kong collaboration mechanism on science and technology innovation will be basically established. The construction of the Huanggang Port will be completed, and cross-border infrastructure connectivity will be enhanced.

The plan also sets objectives for 2035, including comprehensive collaboration with Hong Kong's parks, leading global levels of tech innovation, facilitating the orderly cross-border flow of innovation elements, fostering world-class innovation entities and effectively supporting the construction of the Greater Bay Area's international tech innovation center.

The plan outlines four key tasks: first, work with Hong Kong to promote international scientific and technological innovation and build a first-class scientific and technological platform. Second, build industrial pilot bases to advance the new generation of information technology and biomedicine. Third, build an international mechanism for scientific and technological innovation to facilitate cross-border flows of personnel, capital and data. And last, build a global platform for science and technology cooperation and strengthen international exchanges and talent training.

The plan calls for coordinated promotion of major policies by all departments. The National Development and Reform Commission should follow up and supervise the implementation of planning tasks, and organize evaluations in a timely manner.

John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said the SAR would continue to actively collaborate with Shenzhen to move forward development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, leveraging the comparative advantages of the two places.

"The HKSAR Government is grateful for the staunch support of the Central People's Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government for the development of the Co-operation Zone. The promulgation of the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park injects new momentum to and sets a new stage for the collaboration on I&T development by the two places," Lee said, adding the HKSAR will continue to actively work with Shenzhen to promote the advantages of the Co-operation Zone under the principle of the 'one zone, two parks' underpinned by the 'one country, two systems' principle.

Chai Hua and Chen Keqi in Shenzhen contributed to this story.