SHENZHEN’S economic planner has worked out a development plan for the Lok Ma Chau Loop Area, also called Shenzhen-Hong Kong S&T Innovation Special Cooperation Zone.

According to the plan for 2018 to 2035 made by the city’s development and reform commission, the core area of the zone will occupy 4 square kilometers, including 3 square kilometers in Shenzhen and 1 square kilometer in Hong Kong. The Shenzhen side will encompass Block C of the Lok Ma Chau Loop Area and Futian Bonded Zone, while Block A of the Loop constitutes the Hong Kong side.

Microelectronics, artificial intelligence, biomedicine and new materials will be pillar industries of the zone.

At a meeting with the city’s political advisers Wednesday, Gao Shengyuan, head of the Futian District Government, said the plan will be submitted for review at the second meeting of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Leading Group in October.

“The cooperation zone will be the second important cooperation platform between Shenzhen and Hong Kong following Qianhai. We have planned to build a service center covering 2,400 square meters in the Futian Bonded Zone,” Gao said.

Shenzhen and Hong Kong signed an MOU on jointly developing the Loop in January 2017.  Shenzhen has set up a city-level leading group and four professional teams for the project.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the political advisers put forward a research report covering a thorough six-month investigation and containing 21 suggestions. The suggestions include establishing joint labs, enterprise research labs, IPR centers, innovation bases, a data center and a 5G pilot center.

The Loop, which will play an important role in cultivating the international competitiveness of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, covers a total area of 87 hectares, meaning it will be the largest science and innovation park in Hong Kong, at four times the size of Hong Kong Science Park.

(Han Ximin)