HKPC, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences and Shenzhen Environmental Science Society Co-organised “Shenzhen Hong Kong 2022 Innovation Eco-Environmental Science and Technology Conference” To Scale New Heights in Environmental Protection in both cities

(Hong Kong, 24 November 2022) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), the Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences (SAES) and the Shenzhen Environmental Science Society (SESS) co-organised and launched the “Shenzhen Hong Kong 2022 Innovation Eco Environmental Science and Technology Conference” (“the Conference”) and the “Shenzhen Hong Kong Innovation Eco Environmental Technology and Achievement Exhibition” (“the Exhibition”) in Hong Kong and Shenzhen concurrently. The Conference was attended by Ms Diane WONG, The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC, Mr WEN Zhong, Deputy Director of Shenzhen Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, Mr DAI Zhiguang, President of SAES, Mr XIE Linshen, Vice President of SAES, Mr ZUO Jiane, Vice Dean of Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, representatives of outstanding environmental protection businesses from Shenzhen and Hong Kong, representatives of the units responsible for executing innovative technologies for improving the ecological environment in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, as well as renowned experts and scholars in the field of ecological conservation. The event was broadcasted live simultaneously in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, reflecting the shared development of both cities through exchange and cooperation.

Under the theme of “Technological Innovation for Co-ordinated Development”, the Conference aims at encouraging and commending individuals in the environmental protection industry, scientific research and the academia from Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The “List of 2022 Shenzhen and Hong Kong Outstanding Innovation Eco Environmental Technologies and Achievements” and the “Collection of Shenzhen and Hong Kong Outstanding Innovation Eco Environmental Technologies and Achievements” were also announced at the event. During the conference, other activities were held, including a forum on technological innovation and an exhibition of innovative technological outcomes, which showcased over 50 excellent projects jointly-selected by both Shenzhen and Hong Kong. These projects covered a range of technological applications, such as, the disposal of solid waste and its utilisation as a resource, water quality control, prevention and control of atmospheric pollution, ecological protection and restoration, monitoring of the ecological environment, low-carbon energy conservation and other technologies. These projects represented a vigorous drive to promote the improvement of environmental protection technologies and mutual cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Ms Diane WONG, Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the HKSAR Government, said, “In line with the country's twin goals, the HKSAR Government has been striving to halve Hong Kong's carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The HKSAR Government will invest about 240 billion dollars in the next 15 to 20 years to implement various measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The transition for decarbonisation can bring new opportunities to Hong Kong, and cooperation and exchanges with neighbouring regions are indispensable for opening up growth opportunities. Hong Kong and Shenzhen are connected geographically and the two Governments have been working closely in the areas of regional environmental management and exchange of experience on environmental technology. We are delighted to witness HKPC and SAES signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on promoting Shenzhen-Hong Kong environmental technology exchange and cooperation today. We look forward to further strengthening co-operation in ecological and environmental protection between the two cities, enhancing I&T ecosystem, supporting the development of environmental industries and seeking new business opportunities.”

Mr WEN Zhong, Deputy Director of Shenzhen Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, said, “Encouraging more cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is a crucial support to enriching the new practice of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle and is in itself a specific example of implementing this principle. Encouraging more cooperation is also what Shenzhen and Hong Kong need for prosperity and development. Both cities have established over the years an excellent basis for cooperation in the realm of environmental protection, and such cooperation is now entering a strengthening phase to enable us to take on new challenges. There is no doubt that organising the Conference and signing a memorandum on mutual technological cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong signifies a good first step in welcoming more cooperation in diversified aspects of environmental protection, such as, scientific innovation, technologies, talents, projects and the industry. Organisations, such as, SAES and SESS can continue exploring more areas and ways for Shenzhen and Hong Kong to cooperate regularly. This will promote further enhancement in the shared capacity for co-ordinating the development of technological innovation among Shenzhen, Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Efficiency in cooperation between the industry and the academia will also be improved. Efforts in building a green, low-carbon GBA together and fostering the quality development of environment-related industries in the region will also benefit from this. ”

Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “To strengthen efforts in promoting and incorporating the development of innovative environmental technologies and related industries in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, a MOU has been signed by HKPC and SAES. This aims at strengthening collaboration among the government, industry, academic and research sectors in the GBA, promoting innovation and technology (I&T) education in the region to nurture technology talents, so that more environmental research projects can be commercialised. We are looking forward to working closely with SAES, so as to nurture more new talents well versed in environmental science and technology, and join forces in building a better environment in the GBA.”

Mr DAI Zhiguang, President of SAES and SESS, said, “While the environment in the GBA continues to improve, environmental risks still exist because the natural environment has only a limited capacity of endurance. The rapid economic integration and development of the GBA has created significant pressure on the ecological environment. The mechanism for collaboration on environmental protection matters in the GBA (which includes Shenzhen and Hong Kong) and the real-world situation were taken into account in organising the events. The result is the first exchange between Shenzhen and Hong Kong on innovation of eco-environmental science and technology, as well as a promotional campaign for new products and achievements. This is a successful approach to implement the collaboration mechanism for exchange and to treat it as a platform. The events also served to build up a basis for further collaboration with the cluster of GBA cities in fostering innovative development and bringing talents in the industry together.”

The event also included a technology and innovation forum, featuring an in-depth exchange of ideas on innovative technologies and sharing of excellent projects in the field of eco-environment among the environmental protection industry, R&D sector and the academia from Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The forum also aimed to encourage industry stakeholders to continuously make good use of technology to build a better eco-environment together.

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HKPC and SESS sign a MOU to jointly strengthen co-operation in ecological and environmental protection between the two cities. Witnessed by Ms Diane WONG, The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the HKSAR Government (third from right), Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC (first from right), Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC (fourth from right), Mr WEN Zhong, Deputy Director of Shenzhen Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau (third from left), Mr DAI Zhiguang, President of SAES (fourth from left), Mr ZUO Jiane, Vice Dean of Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (first from left) and Dr CHENG Gong, Head of Comprehensive Department of SAES (fifth from left), the MOU was signed by Mr DU Yonghai, General Manager, Green Living and Innovation Division of HKPC (second from right) and Mr XIE Linshen, Vice President of SAES (second from left), at Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Ms Diane WONG, The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the HKSAR Government, said the HKSAR Government will look forward to further strengthening co-operation in ecological and environmental protection between the two cities, enhancing I&T ecosystem, supporting the development of environmental industries and seeking new business opportunities.

Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC, said HKPC will look forward to working closely with SAES, so that more environmental research projects can be commercialised.