New | Innovation chief should be leading scholar, says Exco’s Andrew Liao

The one to take charge of the planned innovation and technology bureau should be a leading university scholar in the field with good mainland connections, an Executive Council member says.

Andrew Liao Cheung-sing said it would not be preferable to have a bureaucrat into the ministerial position, given the need for professional knowledge required to formulate policies that were “long overdue” compared with neighbouring countries.

Liao is the second in the top advisory body to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to push for the creation of the bureau, after Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, in the wake of Leung’s announcement re-initiate the setting up of the bureau in the Policy Address earlier this month.

Leung’s previous attempt to launch the innovation and technology, and culture bureaux was put to a halt after lawmakers filibustered his cabinet revamp proposal.

Speaking to a small group of media, Liao said he agreed with Leung that it was time to relaunch the former, but he called it “regretful” that the latter had no chance of a rebirth this time.

“Innovation and technology should join hand in hand with culture in elevating Hong Kong to a new development stage,” said Liao. “It’s regretful the culture bureau could not be done now.”

Both areas are in need of a bureau to coordinate cross-departmental policymaking, he said.