The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, visited two pharmaceutical firms in Basel today (June 27, Zurich time) and met with officials from Switzerland in Zurich before concluding his visit to Europe.
Mr Yang's programme in Basel covered visits to Novartis and Roche. Encouraging more research and development to improve healthcare services and seeking opportunities for collaboration, Mr Yang updated the pharmaceutical industry on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's plan to form two research clusters with HK$10 billion in dedicated funding for healthcare technologies and artificial intelligence and robotics at the Hong Kong Science Park. These two areas tie in with Hong Kong's research and development strengths and capabilities.
In the afternoon, Mr Yang called on the Mayor of Zurich, Ms Corine Mauch. He said he was pleased to see the Mayor again after the Smart City Conference held in Hong Kong as part of the Zurich Meets Hong Kong festival in late 2017. With the HKSAR Government having released the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong, Mr Yang said he looked forward to forging more collaboration between Hong Kong and Zurich.
Mr Yang then paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Consul-General in Zurich, Mr Zhao Qinghua, and Government Councillor of Zurich Ms Carmen Walker Späh before concluding his day visit to Switzerland.
Joining Mr Yang for the visit were the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong, and the Biotechnology Director of the Innovation and Technology Commission, Dr Cecilia Pang.
With the completion of his three-nation European visit to France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, Mr Yang left Zurich in the evening and will arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon (June 28).
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