Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, joined the Fireside Chat on Innovation and Technology (I&T) co-organised by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA)(Toronto Chapter), HKETO, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Toronto Office, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) Canada on May 3 to share the tremendous opportunities on I&T developments in Hong Kong.
In her opening remarks, Ms Mo said that the “one country, two systems” principle ensured that Hong Kong enjoys the country’s steadfast support and speedy growth, while staying highly and openly connected with the rest of the world. This unparalleled advantage is buttressed by the robust rule of law and intellectual property rights protection, full support by Mainland China’s national strategies, including being the world’s largest offshore Renminbi business hub and part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
“Hong Kong is destined to rise as a world-class technology and innovation hub,” she said.
Ms Mo remarked that the number of start-ups in Hong Kong has soared from about 1 000 in 2014 to some 4 000 last year. Over that same period, 10 unicorns were raised. Also, Hong Kong was ranked second in the 2022 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking’s "technology" factor.
Ms Mo mentioned about the newly set up Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises and the Hong Kong Talent Engage office to attract talents. “We are targeting companies, and individuals, from fields as life and health technology, AI and data science, financial technology, advanced manufacturing and new-energy technology,” she added. “Our goal is to attract at least 100 I&T enterprises, or representatives, to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong over the next five year.”
Also present at the fireside chat today was Professor Frank Yam, a graduate of the University of Waterloo, who has had an illustrious career and business development in Hong Kong and the region. As a model for those young Canadians aspiring to go east, he shared his experience and insights in the opportunities presented by Hong Kong to the Canadian I&T sector.
He was joined by Mr Raj Dewan, Board Director of HKCBA (Toronto) and Partner of McMillan LLP, as well as Mr Christopher Chen, Head of InvestHK Canada, at the event.
香港經貿處處長參與港加商會對談會推廣創新科技
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）處長巫菀菁於五月三日參與由港加商會（多倫多分會）、香港經貿處、香港貿易發展局駐加拿大辦事處及投資推廣署加拿大辦事處合辦，主題為創新科技的爐邊對談會，討論香港創科發展的龐大機遇。
巫菀菁為活動致開幕辭時表示，香港在「一國兩制」下得到國家強大支持並迅速發展，對外保持高度開放，聯通世界。除此無可比擬的優勢外，香港還擁有穩健的法治制度和知識產權保障，並獲國家政策全力支持，例如香港是全球最大離岸人民幣業務樞紐，亦在粵港澳大灣區發展策略之內。
巫菀菁說：「香港無可置疑能躍升為世界級科技創新中心。」
巫菀菁指出，香港的初創企業數目由2014年約1,000間躍升至去年約4,000間，同期香港還培育了10間獨角獸公司。另外，香港在《2022年世界數碼競爭力排名》中，「科技」方面的表現排名第二。
巫菀菁又提到，政府最近成立引進重點企業辦公室及香港人才服務窗口，以吸引各方人才。她說：「我們聚焦吸引生命健康科技、人工智能與數據科學、金融科技，以及先進製造與新能源科技等產業的優秀企業和人才落戶香港，目標於未來五年吸引不少於100間具潛力或代表性的創科企業在港設立或擴展業務。」
對談會上的另一位講者為加拿大滑鐵盧大學畢業的Frank Yam教授，他在香港及亞洲地區有傑出的業務發展，他以過來人身分，與有志前往亞洲發展的加拿大青年分享其對香港為加拿大創科界帶來機遇的個人經驗和見解。
此外，港加商會（多倫多分會）董事局主席、McMillan LLP的合伙人Raj Dewan，以及投資推廣署加拿大辦事處總監陳立智亦在會上分享分享香港創科的發展。
