Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

ON Jan. 3, 2017, Shenzhen and Hong Kong agreed to build the Lok Ma Chau Loop (the Loop) into an innovation and technology park based on the concept of combining higher education with creative industries, according to a memorandum signed at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Conference in Hong Kong.

The agreement marked a milestone in the new era of Shenzhen and Hong Kong’s strategic cooperation, taking after the newly established cooperation in the Qianhai area.

According to the construction plan, higher education and cultural innovation facilities will be built to support the development of high technology. Hong Kong will also support Shenzhen in building Shenzhen Science Innovation Park in the 3-square-kilometer area adjacent to the Loop north of Shenzhen River. The two sides will cooperate in building the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Technology Innovation Zone.

The park will be a scientific research base for the world’s top universities, research institutes and enterprises.

A comprehensive high-end training facility will be built inside the park to invite the world’s top universities to set up branches and institutes as well as offer training curricula related to high-tech research and industry.

To further develop the Loop, the Shenzhen government has recently decided to set up a special cooperative zone to support the scientific and technological innovation of the city and Hong Kong. The Shenzhen part of the zone includes an area north of the Loop called Zone C and the Futian Bonded Zone.

According to the Hong Kong government’s 2018-2019 budget published Feb. 28 this year, HK$20 billion (US$2.5 billion) will be budgeted for the first phase of the Loop.