The second meeting of the 'Steering Group on Shenzhen/Hong Kong Co-operation in Innovation and Technology' was held in Hong Kong on 5 May. Co-chaired by Mr Frederick Ma, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, and Mr Liu Ying-li, Chairman of the Shenzhen side of the Steering Group, the meeting reviewed the items of co-operation underway and agreed on the focuses for future co-operation.

The two sides agreed to carry out more in-depth and comprehensive collaboration and exchange in various areas, such as encouraging technology development and transfers, strengthening co-operation in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, promoting co-operation in technology affecting people's daily lives, stepping up co-operation in intellectual property protection and fostering the exchange of talent and sharing of resources.

The Steering Group, set up under the co-operation agreement on the 'Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle' signed by the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Shenzhen Municipal Government in May last year, aims to facilitate high-level deliberations in mapping out the implementation details of the Innovation Circle and to co-ordinate technology collaboration and exchange between the two sides. Members of the Steering Group comprise senior government officials as well as representatives of relevant departments and technology support organisations of both places.

Following the signing of the agreement, the two sides have embarked on several co-operative measures, including launching the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme to jointly fund collaborative research and development projects. Last year, a total funding of about $35 million was deployed to support four projects involving core technologies of RFID and integrated circuits.

The two sides have also stepped up technological co-operation in areas including control of infectious diseases, pharmaceutical R&D and food tests, as well as worked together on some technology exchange activities, such as seminars on technology research projects, a forum on the 'Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle' and the setting up of the 'Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle Pavilion' at the China Hi-Tech Fair in October last year.