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Hong Kong science and tech
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Hong Kong, mainland China to start sharing data this year: tech minister Sun Dong

Minister also outlines plans to host chats between students and city’s first astronaut as early as start of new school term

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Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong. Photo: Jonathan Wong
The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park is part of the Northern Metropolis megaproject. Photo: Eugene Lee
Sun briefs Xia Baolong (centre), director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, during the Beijing official's recent visit to the city. Photo: Handout
Natalie Wong

As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead.

Hong Kong and mainland China are expected to begin sharing cross-border data within the year, when more companies will start operating in the Hetao innovation hub, the tech minister has revealed.

In a wide-ranging interview with the South China Morning Post, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said that various life science and artificial intelligence (AI) firms had already expressed interest in the data-sharing policy.

The minister also outlined plans to roll out events as early as “the start of the new school term” so local students could talk to Lai Ka-ying, the city’s first astronaut, while she was in space.

On the cross-boundary data flow mechanism, Sun said city authorities had ironed out all operational and regulatory details with Shenzhen to enable digital information and biosamples to move securely across the Greater Bay Area.

The second half of the year offered a good window to activate relevant arrangements as more companies would begin operating in the Hong Kong section of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, located in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, he said.

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