Promoting fashion design
Mr CHAN Chun-ying and Mr POON Siu-ping enquired about how the promotion of the fashion design industry in Hong Kong. Mr CHAN asked if the Administration would consider fostering collaboration between the fashion design and tourism sectors to create synergy by, for example, having local designers in Sham Shui Po District to provide made-to-order fashion for tourists.
SCED said that there was much room for development by combining design and industry, and in making full use of the traditional base for apparel and fabrics in Sham Shui Po District to create new synergy and new business opportunities. This could drive the local economy and enrich the tourism resources of the district.
Technology talent scheme
Mr CHAN Chun-ying noted that I&TB would launch a $500 million “Technology Talent Scheme” to, among other objectives, establish a “Postdoctoral Hub” programme which would provide funding support for enterprises to recruit postdoctoral talents for research and development (“R&D”) work. He asked whether the Administration would incentivize overseas talents by, for example, providing short-term accommodations or arranging education services for their children. Mr Jeffrey LAM also commented that in order to develop Hong Kong into a smart city, it was necessary for the Administration to have comprehensive plans to train local technology talents.
S for IT responded that the development and retention of technology talents was one of the key foci in the Policy Address. The Technology Talent Scheme would provide more opportunities for the 8 000 STEM graduates in Hong Kong each year to remain in the relevant fields. S for IT added that other schemes, such as the matching fund for local enterprises to train their staff on advanced manufacturing technologies, especially those related to Industry 4.0, and the proposed expansion of the Internship Programme for technology-related graduates, would also help train and retain local talents as well as attract overseas talents. S for IT added that the Administration would introduce measures to attract to Hong Kong talents from top universities and research institutions overseas. I&TB would also examine, in collaboration with other bureaux (including the Security Bureau), measures to facilitate entry of overseas talents into Hong Kong.