The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, began his visit to Beijing today (January 29).

The visit started with a meeting at the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) with Vice Minister Professor Huang Wei. Both sides discussed the work arrangements arising from the meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee held in November last year, including the cross-boundary transfer of Mainland funding for research projects, the co-operation in innovation and technology between the two places, the participation of Hong Kong technology experts in national science and technology programmes and the assessment of Hong Kong laboratories to be approved as Partner State Key Laboratories. Mr Yang thanked the MOST for its strenuous support for the co-operation between the two places, leveraging Hong Kong's advantages to contribute to national development.

A courtesy call on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council came afterwards. Mr Yang met with its Director, Mr Zhang Xiaoming, and Deputy Director, Mr Huang Liuquan.

In the afternoon, Mr Yang went to Zhongguancun to visit the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He was introduced to iris, facial and gait recognition technologies developed by the Institute and its frontier disciplines in brain science and artificial intelligence.

At his meeting with the Vice President of the CAS, Professor Zhang Jie, Mr Yang said that the CAS is the largest national research institute and has close partnership with Hong Kong, conducting research projects jointly with six universities in Hong Kong. In support of the development of a city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, Hong Kong will strive to build an international innovation and technology hub. Mr Yang said he looked forward to co-operating closer with the CAS on various fronts for mutual benefit.

Joining Mr Yang in the visit to Beijing are the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi, and the Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Allen Yeung.

Mr Yang will call on the National Development and Reform Commission tomorrow (January 30) before concluding his visit to Beijing and returning to Hong Kong.

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