 |
   |
|
 |
|||
|
24 November, 2001 Hong Kong: developing its technological capabilities |
|
Developing Hong Kong's technology and innovation capabilities is one of the areas the government has been working at for the last few years. However, it is probably fair to say that most people in Hong Kong are still skeptical. The way the Cyberport site was granted a few years ago generated a lot of ill feelings amongst many businessmen in Hong Kong, and the project is still seen by many as merely a property project. The dot.com phenomenon was, with hindsight, a soap bubble. The GEM Board has also lost a lot of its appeal these days.
I attended a Forum organized by the Government's Innovation and Technology Commission yesterday. I left the Forum with an impression that, despite all the scepticism the public still has towards the prospects of Hong Kong's technological development, a silent transformation of Hong Kong is slowly underway.
What impressed me most yesterday were the speakers. They include :
| (a) |
Professor Paul Chu, who took up a few months ago the job of the President of University of Science and Technology. He is a world-renowed scientist pioneering in the field of high-temperature superconductivity. |
| (b) | Professor Eugene Wong, Chairman of the Council of Advisors on Innovation and Technolgy (a Council set up by Mr Tung). An Emeritus Professor of UC Berkeley and a former technology advisor to President Bush in the early-90s. Prof Wong's area of specialization is in telecom and computer science. He is still running software companies of his own. |
| (c) | Professor Simon Wong, who has recently taken up the job as the CEO of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI). ASTRI has been set up in Hong Kong to develop mid-stream research capabilities to help increase the level of sophistication and broaden the base of Hong Kong's industry. |
| (d) | Professor Neal Lane, a distinguished scientist in physics and the Advisor to President Clinton on technology policy. |
All these speakers, in their own ways, have had significant achievements in the field of science and technology, not just in theoretical development, but also in commercial applications. And 3 of them have recently taken up leadership positions in Hong Kong's most important technological development institutions.
Having good quality people is vital in science and technology, and in research and applications. What's more is that you could either have a virtuous spiral or a vicious spiral -- birds of the same calibre gather.
Personally, I have been a Board member of the Hong Kong Science Park in the past few years, and I must admit that I had worries as to whether Hong Kong could really turn its rather weak position in the field of science and technology around. After listening to the speakers yesterday, I am feeling a lot more positive about the prospects -- Hong Kong is in good hands.
The US is widely accepted to be the most powerful nation in research and technology. But in reality, some 60% of the brain power in the US comes from other parts of the world -- which also provides a rich soil for cross-fertilization of ideas. (The joke a few years back was that the term IT in the Silicon Valley stands for Indians and Taiwanese.)
There is no shortage of business expertise, market information and financial resources in Hong Kong. The city is also the control centre for a large number of factories and a substantial amount of trade in the region. What the territory needs is the ability to attract and build up a critical mass of talented scientists who could help to raise the industrial capabilities of Hong Kong's industries to a new level. As our new leaders in the technology area warm their seats, I am sure they will start bringing in the right people, and introducing the right policies for Hong Kong so as to encourage the development of local talents.
The physical construction of the Cyberport and the Science Park (now called the Science and Technology Park, and the ASTRI building is also in the same Park) has been going on in the past few years. Some of the buildings will come on stream next year and more will be finished in the coming years. Companies which have already signed up will then move in, employ the scientists they need, and start operations.
It takes years to build an economy's technological and innovation capabilities. After the efforts in the past few years, I feel assured, particularly after the Forum yesterday, that the momentum of Hong Kong technological development is building up, and accelerating.
Supporters of Hong Kong, cheer up!
| K.C. Kwok |
|
This memorandum is issued by Standard Chartered Bank and is based on or derived from information generally available to the public from sources believed to be reliable. No representation or warranty is made or implied that it is accurate or complete. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. This memorandum has been prepared solely for information purposes and for circulation and no responsibility is accepted for use of or reliance on information provided herein. This memorandum does not constitute any solicitation to buy or sell any instrument or to engage in any trading strategy. Standard Chartered Bank, or any company within the group of which it forms part, may have a position in any of the instruments or currencies mentioned. |
