Focus on advanced manufacturing: technopole chief

Sunny Chai, chairman of the San Tin Technopole Company, has emphasized the need for Hong Kong to clearly define which industries to develop due to its constrained land availability. In an interview with RTHK's On Broadcast Drive program, Chai advocated that life sciences should be situated at the Lok Ma Chau Loop, while microelectronics, robotics, and green manufacturing should dominate San Tin.

He expressed satisfaction with the government's recent surge in investment towards innovation and technology, stating these initiatives are heading in the right direction.

Chai noted that Hong Kong's industrial land prices have historically been considerably higher than those in Shenzhen and Shantou. However, the recent land price for the Sandy Ridge supercomputing centre has now rivaled those of the two mainland cities, likely due to shifts in land prices and tax incentives. Chai underlined that these factors are of paramount importance in luring advanced manufacturing partners to the city.

Moreover, Chai pointed out that the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with the mainland has remained stagnant for many years, suggesting there is ample room for enhancement. He was inaugurated as the inaugural chairman of the San Tin Technopole Company in May for a three-year tenure commencing July 1. The company, wholly owned by the government, is tasked with the development of 210 hectares of land within the technopole for innovation and technology purposes.