Bridge to the future: Hong Kong park of landmark cooperation zone opens

More than 60 enterprises from overseas, the mainland, and Hong Kong have been gradually moving into two wet laboratory towers at the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, bringing occupancy close to 80 percent.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made the announcement at the park’s opening ceremony yesterday, describing the development as a “bridgehead and testing ground” for Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector.
“It will also serve as a demonstration site for innovative policies in the Greater Bay Area and globally, acting as a powerful engine for Hong Kong’s growth,” Lee said.

The chief executive pledged to actively promote the zone worldwide to bring more enterprises into this fertile ground for innovation.
Executive Deputy Director Xu Qifang of the CPC Central Committee's Hong Kong and Macao Work Office and the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office attended the ceremony, along with Liaison Office Director Zhou Ji.

Xu described the park as a “core engine” for driving the city’s innovation industry and supporting high-quality development in the GBA.

Covering 87 hectares, the Hetao Hong Kong Park will be developed in two phases. The first batch of eight buildings includes two wet laboratory towers and one talent apartment block, now completed and offering 32,000 square meters of floor space and 100 apartment units.

More than 60 firms in life and health technology, microelectronics, new energy, and artificial intelligence have signed leases and begun moving in. Among them are Shaoyin Technology, XtalPi, AstraZeneca, and H Buschkuehl Limited.
Construction of the remaining five buildings is underway, scheduled for completion from 2027 onward.

By 2030, the park aims to establish an efficient collaborative innovation mechanism with its Shenzhen counterpart.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said after the ceremony that planning for the second phase has been finalized.

Together, the two phases will provide about 2 million square meters of floor space and create nearly 100,000 jobs.

Construction of the western cross-river bridge linking the Hong Kong and Shenzhen parks also began yesterday. Jointly designed and funded by both regions, the bridge is expected to be completed by 2027.

Sun said the design emphasizes technology, low carbon emissions, safety, convenience, and ecological harmony.

The “one-span river crossing” will symbolize the “one zone, two parks” concept, strengthening transport links, facilitating cross-border mobility, and connecting the innovation network of the GBA.