Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday encouraged Hong Kong’s young people studying or working on the Chinese mainland to ride the tailwind of policies supporting innovation and technology (I&T) development, and urged them to apply their learning “boldly” to propel cross-border I&T growth.

Lee made his remarks during a breakfast meeting with four young Beijing-based Hong Kong people at the Peking University.

In a social media post, Lee said that the four youngsters he met with all have professional backgrounds in the I&T field — three are business executives within the technology education, medical devices and Web3 sectors, respectively, and one is studying aerospace engineering at the Peking University.

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Lee said he told the four youngsters that, with the guidance and support of national policies, coupled with Hong Kong's goal of becoming an international innovation hub — as evidenced by its flagship innovation projects, such as the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone — Hong Kong is bound to achieve great success in the I&T field when collaborating with the mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The chief executive had in-depth discussions with them on topics such as innovative technology, popular science education, social media applications and youth mobilization.

“I wish them to keep up the good work, continue to showcase their talents and shine brightly, and make more contributions to Hong Kong and the country,” said Lee.

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Before the breakfast, Lee met with Peking University Party Secretary He Guangcai and discussed strategies to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, along with viable models for the planned university town within the area.

Lee said that He agreed with the current development road map for the university town and has indicated that Peking University intends to establish a research institute in the Northern Metropolis — results that Lee said were “very encouraging”.

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com