CE visits Lok Ma Chau and Sham Shui Po Sports Ground (with photos/video)
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, this morning (February 13) visited Lok Ma Chau to inspect the progress of various works and projects in the Lok Ma Chau Loop as well as visit personnel on duty at Lok Ma Chau Police Station and Lok Ma Chau Boundary Control Point to thank them for their commitment in serving members of the public during the holidays. She also went to Sham Shui Po Sports Ground to extend her New Year greetings to staff members on duty and users.
Mrs Lam and the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, viewed the Loop from Lok Ma Chau Police Station this morning. They were briefed by colleagues of the Innovation and Technology Bureau and the Civil Engineering and Development Department as well as the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP) Limited, Mr Patrick Siu, on the progress of the works of supporting infrastructural facilities in the Loop and the establishment of the HSITP.
With the approval of funding by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for the HSITP Main Works Package 1 last month and the first batch of buildings in the HSITP last week, relevant work can be commenced in an orderly manner. The HSITP will prioritise the development of six research and development (R&D) areas, namely healthcare technologies, big data and artificial intelligence, robotics, new materials, microelectronics and financial technology. The first batch of buildings is expected to be completed in 2024 to allow tenants to move in. One of the major characteristics of the works is the achievement of a balance between development and conservation. The relevant authorities have in the first place established a 12.8-hectare ecological area within the works site to conserve an environment with ecological value.
In addition, it was announced in the Policy Address last year that, under the co-operation between the Governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, interested institutes and enterprises can establish a presence in the Shenzhen Innovation Technology Zone before the completion of the first batch of buildings in the HSITP to start their R&D and business sooner rather than later, with a view to establishing "one zone, two parks". The two places have been working closely together and making good progress.
"Hong Kong has been strong in innovation and technology (I&T) development. Given that its neighbour, Shenzhen, is good at the commercial application of technological achievements, the co-operation between two strong players in the I&T area will provide enormous impetus to the development of the international I&T hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Government and the industry will seize the opportunity to foster the development of the ecological chain of the I&T industry in Hong Kong and Shenzhen so as to offer tremendous employment and start-up business opportunities for the young people of Hong Kong," Mrs Lam said.
Mrs Lam and the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, then visited Lok Ma Chau Police Station to extend New Year greetings to police officers on duty. Accompanied by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang, and the Director of Immigration, Mr Au Ka-wang, they also visited duty officers at Lok Ma Chau Boundary Control Point to learn more about the clearance procedure for cross-boundary trucks amid the epidemic. Mrs Lam thanked officers of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department, the Immigration Department and the Department of Health for standing fast at their posts to maintain law and order as well as ensure the smooth operation of cross-boundary freight traffic, thereby allowing a continuous supply of goods and food to Hong Kong to meet the needs of the people.
The last stop of the visit was Sham Shui Po Sports Ground, where Mrs Lam and the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, were briefed by the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, on the use of the sports ground during the Lunar New Year holidays and its anti-epidemic measures. To allow members of the public to relax, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has made special arrangements for the Lunar New Year this year to open 10 sports grounds for the public to jog in. Anti-epidemic measures have been stepped up, including mandating members of the public to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code with their mobile phones or register their contact details before entering the venues. Mrs Lam thanked the venue staff for providing services to the public during the holidays. She also talked to users at the venue and noted that they welcomed the opening of the sports grounds and would support the anti-epidemic measures adopted by the Government.
