HONG Kong and Shenzhen will jointly develop an innovation and technology park on the long-disputed 87-hectare Lok Ma Chau Loop (落馬洲河套區) to help boost the technological development of both cities.

The new park, which is four times larger than Hong Kong Science Park (香港科學園) in Tai Po, will be a key base for cooperation in innovation and technology. The SAR government hopes it will attract top enterprises, research institutions and higher-education institutes.

“Hong Kong and Shenzhen can take advantage of each other [through the project],” said Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin (深圳市市長許勤), noting that his city has a desirable business environment for the development of advanced technology, while Hong Kong has international talent.

There will be facilities for the development of innovative technology including robotic and bio-medicine. A small part of the land will be for commercial use. Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (港深創新及科技園) will build and run the project, which is expected to create about 40,000 positions.

But the project raises questions on how the SAR government will control the border.

One suggestion is to issue ‘business travel cards’ to personnel eligible to enter the park.

Information technology sector lawmaker Charles Mok (莫乃光) said: “I hope this will not create a gap, whether intentionally or unintentionally, allowing an influx of personnel [to the SAR].”

(This article is published on Junior Standard on 1 January 2017)

Chief Executive’s speech at signing of Memorandum of Understanding
https://goo.gl/TW59io

Development of Lok Ma Chau Loop
https://goo.gl/uYVDZQ