Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor speaks at the opening ceremony of Hong Kong International Computer Conference 2021 organized by the Hong Kong Computer Society, Nov 17, 2021. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

HONG KONG – Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Wednesday the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a highly innovative framework, within which technology and digitalization will play a major role in bridging gaps and removing barriers. 

She made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Computer Conference 2021. The theme of the two-day conference is "Emerging Technologies Shaping Our Future in the Greater Bay Area". 

Pointing out different policy initiatives of the SAR government in the field of innovation and technology and the encouraging results they are bearing, she said the relentless rise of the Bay Area – operating under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and featuring different legal systems and complementary strengths – will only boost those numbers. 

A particularly far-reaching proposal is to build the Northern Metropolis, which takes up 300 square kilometers of Hong Kong land and it is along the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary.

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive, HKSAR

Referring to the “groundbreaking measures to fast-track Hong Kong's I&T development” in her latest Policy Address, Lam said, "A particularly far-reaching proposal is to build the Northern Metropolis, which takes up 300 square kilometers of Hong Kong land and it is along the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary.” 

Within the Metropolis, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop and the surrounding areas will be integrated to form the San Tin Technopole, she said. “That will give us about 240 hectares to work with, not only for R&D, but also for advanced manufacturing activities."

READ MORE: CE outlines visionary Northern Metropolis plan

Along with the Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Zone across the river, it will come together as the Shenzhen-Hong Kong I&T Co-operation Zone – the central engine for the high-powered development of an international innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area, according to the Hong Kong leader.  

The Northern Metropolis is expected to provide 650,000 jobs, including 150,000 in the I&T sector, she added. 

(From left) Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the HKICC 2021 Peter Yan; Director General of the Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR Zhang Zhihua; Chief Executive Carrie Lam; President of the Hong Kong Computer Society, Dr Rocky Cheng; and Chairperson of the Programme Committee of the HKICC 2021, Professor Tam Kar-yan, officiate at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Computer Conference 2021, Nov 17, 2021. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

"We will also continue to expand the Hong Kong Science Park. For this purpose, we will take forward the Ma Liu Shui reclamation project and vacate the site of the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works, providing another 88 hectares of dedicated land for I&T purposes,” said Lam, adding that the Cyberport 5 project has also commenced, which will increase the gross floor area of Cyberport by more than 40 per cent within four years' time. 

ALSO READ: 'Northern Metropolis' to be HK's 'second economic engine'

 Mentioning that the SAR government has implemented various measures to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in schools in the past few years, she said: “Hopefully that will help produce a steady supply of talents for I&T development in Hong Kong.”