FHKI’s iForum 2023 Sparks Dialogue on New Chapter of Advanced Manufacturing

 

 Today (8 Jun), the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) presented its highly-awaited “iForum 2023 – A New Era of Innovation, Technology and Industrialisation” at the Hong Kong Science Park.  iForum 2023 was officiated by the Guest of Honour John Lee, the Chief Executive of HKSAR and Yin Zonghua, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR and, also, Special Guest, Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.

 The forum was held on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to Hong Kong. This event demonstrates an in-depth actualisation of President Xi's speech at the Hong Kong Science Park during his visit last year, which called for Hong Kong to strengthen cooperation among industry, academia, and research in innovation.  In his welcome remarks, FHKI Chairman Dr Sunny Chai expressed his thanks to the Central Government and the HKSAR Government for their continuous and generous investments and staunch support for Hong Kong's I&T.  He said, “The decision to hold the iForum 2023 in June is of great significance because it marks the celebration of President Xi Jinping's visit to the Hong Kong Science Park on June 30th last year, during which he expressed that Hong Kong's I&T industry had ‘both a solid foundation and an enormous potential’.  We must work together to promote I&T and new industrialisation, build Hong Kong into an international I&T hub, and integrate into the overall development of our country.”

 Guest of Honour, Chief Executive John Lee wished the iForum 2023 a success with a fruitful outcome.  He stated, “Collaboration between the government and the industry is crucial in achieving new industrialisation in Hong Kong.  FHKI has been devoted in promoting the development of the business and industrial sectors in Hong Kong for over 60 years, leading the industry in overcoming various challenges.  I express my gratitude to FHKI for its efforts in driving Hong Kong's industrial development.  I believe FHKI will continue to actively advocate the industry's views to the government, bringing a continuous momentum of force strengthening Hong Kong's future development.  Together, we will contribute to the high-quality development of our country.”

 In his speech, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, stated that in addition to creating a new post of the Commissioner for Industry, the HKSAR Government promotes the development of Hong Kong's new industries through five areas: talent, technology, capital, scientific research and infrastructure.  He said, “The HKSAR Government will continue to work hand in hand with FHKI to unleash the power of innovation, support traditional industries to upgrade and transform with technology and enable Hong Kong's industries to embark on a new chapter in the new era of innovation and technology.”

 Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK) Limited is the lead sponsor for the iForum 2023. Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK, said, “BOCHK has been proactively responding to various HKSAR Government’s policy measures, while fully supporting the development of the ‘eight centres’ in Hong Kong, including, promoting Hong Kong as an international financial centre as well as an international innovation and technology hub.  We remain committed to contributing our efforts to enhance Hong Kong’s development momentum.  In recent years, the total amount of loans that BOCHK provided to innovation and technology enterprises has recorded double-digit growth on average each year.  The bank’s business coverage in various innovation and technology parks has been continuously increasing.  In the future, BOCHK will further strengthen cooperation with various chambers of commerce and local academic institutions, while introducing custom-made financial products and services benefitting the innovation and technology industry, supporting the sustainable development of local innovation and technology sector.”

 Focusing on the two themes of “Smart Manufacturing” and “Health Technology and New Industrialisation”, the forum aimed at promoting exchanges of insights amongst relevant industrialists, investors, academics, and government officials from diversified perspectives, not only allowing Hong Kong to develop “advanced manufacturing” achieving “new industrialisation”, but also, promoting Hong Kong industries to the international platform.  Keynote speakers, included, Professor Jia Jiaya, Founder and Chairman of SmartMore Corporation Limited, and Professor Dennis Lo, Associate Dean (Research) from Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong.  Dr Sunny Chai, FHKI Chairman; Steve Chuang, FHKI Executive Deputy Chairman and Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK also joined the event.

 In his closing remarks, FHKI Executive Deputy Chairman Steve Chuang stated that smart manufacturing not only consolidates and strengthens Hong Kong's traditional industrial advantages, but also drives diversified development of the industry, injecting new impetus into the growing economy.  He emphasised, “FHKI will continue to play a bridging role, aiming to achieve high-quality development of Hong Kong's industry, accelerate integration into the overall national development and promote more cooperation within the industry.”

 iForum 2023 was sponsored by BOCHK, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, and Vita Green Health Products Company Limited.  Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation, the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation co-organised the event.  Strategic partners, included, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, Cyberport, and Hong Kong Productivity Council.

 FHKI Innovation and Technology Development Committee organised the iForum for the first time in 2016.  iForum aims to allow diverse stakeholders, such as, industrialists, investors, academics, and government officials to exchange views on Hong Kong's industrial prospects and, also, explore and tap new opportunities in the global market.

Picture 1: John Lee, the Chief Executive of HKSAR (centre); Yin Zonghua, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (left 2), Professor Sun Dong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (right 1), Dr Sunny Chai, FHKI Chairman (right 2), and Steve Chuang, FHKI Executive Deputy Chairman (left 1) had a group photo on the stage of iForum 2023.

 

Picture 2: John Lee, the Chief Executive of HKSAR, posed for a group photo with FHKI leadership and guests of iForum 2023.

 

Picture 3: John Lee, the Chief Executive of HKSAR (centre) served as the Guest of Honour to officiate FHKI’s iForum 2023.

 

Picture 4: FHKI Chairman Dr Sunny Chai delivered the welcome remarks.

 

Picture 5: Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry served as the special guest and delivered a speech.

 

Picture 6: Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK delivered a speech.

 

Picture 7: Professor Jia Jiaya, Founder and Chairman of SmartMore Corporation Limited, delivered a keynote speech on AI technology.

 

Picture 8: Moderated by Dr Alfred Ng, Vice Chairman of FHKI Group 5 (Hong Kong Electronics Industry Council) and Vice Chairman of FHKI Innovation and Technology Development Committee (right 3), Professor Jia Jiaya, Founder and Chairman of SmartMore Corporation Limited (left 3); Young Kam-yim, Managing Director of Luen Tai Hong (left 1); Ir Dr HL Yiu, Head of Innofacturing of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (left 2); Matthew Leung, Advisor to the Director of Huawei Hong Kong Research Centre (right 2); and Professor Martin Wong, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (right 1), shared their insights at the panel discussion on “Correlation Between Advanced Manufacturing and Technology: How to Propel New Industrialisation?”.

 

Picture 9: Professor Dennis Lo, Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, delivered a keynote speech on Biotechnology.

 

Picture 10: Moderated by Jimmy Tao, Vice Chairman of FHKI Group 1 (Hong Kong Chemical and Biotechnology Council), Professor Dennis Lo, Associate Dean (Research) of Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (left 3); Dr Helen Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Vita Green Health Products Company Limited (left 1); Professor Philip Chiu, Associate Dean (External Affairs) of Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (right 1); Professor Siew Ng, Director of Microbiota-Centre (MagIC) (right 2); and Dr Benny Lo, Chief Executive Officer of Precision Robotics (Hong Kong) Limited, shared their insights on Health Technology and Advanced Manufacturing at the panel discussion.

 

Picture 11: Steve Chuang, FHKI Executive Deputy Chairman delivered closing remarks for iForum 2023.

 

Picture 12: John Lee, Chief Executive of HKSAR posed a photo with Dr Helen Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Vita Green Health Products Company Limited, in front of the exhibition booth.

 

Picture 13: FHKI Chairman Dr Sunny Chai showcased SmartMore's products to John Lee, Chief Executive of HKSAR.

 

Picture 14: John Lee, Chief Executive of HKSAR, accompanied by FHKI Chairman Dr Sunny Chai, visited the showcase of iForum 2023 and listened to the introduction by Professor Siew Ng, Director of Microbiota-Centre (MagIC).

 

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