The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Anthony Wong, attended on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region Government the Third Pan Pearl River Delta (PRD) Regional Science and Technology Cooperation Conference held in Changsha, Hunan last Saturday (December 11).

The Conference was also attended by representatives from the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, Fujian Province, Jianxi Province, Hunan Province, Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Hainan Province, and the Science and Technology Council of Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Conference has reached agreement in the following aspects:

(1) Members established the mode of operation of the Pan PRD Regional Science and Technology Cooperation Conference and an Office will be set up to support the work of the Cooperation Conference.

(2) Members will jointly compile a "Strategic Plan for Pan PRD Regional Cooperation in Science and Technology 2005-2010" for the Conference's consideration next year.

(3) A special working group will be set up to look into the proposals of establishing a platform for science and technology exchange and sharing of resources as well as setting up a mechanism for cooperation in technology areas of common interest.

(4) Exchange in science and technology within the region will be strengthened.

(5) The Department of Science and Technology of the nine Mainland provinces/autonomous region will jointly devise and publish guidelines on mutual recognition of hi-tech companies and technology enterprises by the authorities in these nine provinces/autonomous region.

(6) Cooperation among provinces/autonomous region and special administrative regions as well as those among enterprises will be encouraged and supported under the "9+2" Cooperation Framework in Science and Technology.

The Conference also unanimously agreed that the Fourth Pan PRD Regional Science and Technology Cooperation Conference would be held in Hong Kong in September next year.

(Source: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government website)

Editor: Catherine