LegCo Panel on Transport begins duty visit to Yangtze River Delta Region
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The delegation of the Legislative Council Panel on Transport began the four-day duty visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou today (September 10), to gain insights into the latest development and implementation in smart mobility and the new energy transport industry.
Upon their arrival in Shanghai in the afternoon, the delegation visited the Shanghai Lingang hydrogen-powered medium-capacity T3 line (T3 line) to understand its design and operation. The public transport in the area utilises a digital rail system with magnetic markers embedded in road surface, and uses underbody sensors for real-time positioning and autonomous direction control of the tram wheels. Members then took a ride on the digital rail hydrogen-powered tram to experience how new energy vehicles provide low-carbon and efficient smart public transport service to citizens.
Members noted that the T3 line, a hydrogen-powered public transport route, commenced operations in 2023. Its features include integrating green transport of the area into the planning of Lingang to facilitate the development of hydrogen-powered transport industry chain.
Members then participated in an exchange session with representatives of Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Lingang Special Area Administration (LSAA) and received a briefing on its medium-capacity planning and the development strategy of the hydrogen energy industry in LSSA. They also shared experiences regarding the application of hydrogen-powered public transport.
The delegation will continue its duty visit in Shanghai tomorrow (September 11).
A total of 10 members and non-members of the Panel on Transport join the duty visit. The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, also leads a government delegation to join the duty visit.
LegCo Panel on Transport begins duty visit to Yangtze River Delta Region Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Panel on Transport begins duty visit to Yangtze River Delta Region Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Panel on Transport begins duty visit to Yangtze River Delta Region Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Preparatory work for World Intellectual Property Organization Technology and Innovation Support Centre in Hong Kong commences
The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), along with 50 other service institutions on the Mainland, has been designated jointlyby the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as part of the new batch of organisations for establishing Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISCs) and will commence preparatory work that will span a period of one year.
Upon completion of the establishment period, the CNIPA and WIPO will conduct an evaluation and authorise the HKPC to officially operate the TISC in Hong Kong after confirming that the required conditions are met.
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said, "We welcome the designation of the HKPC as an organisation for establishing the TISC by the CNIPA and WIPO. The Government will support the HKPC in taking forward the preparatory work, striving for the commencement of operations at the centre next year at the earliest to provide assistance and services to the trade, with a view to further promoting Hong Kong's development as a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre and an international innovation and technology centre."
Under a dedicated programme of the WIPO Development Agenda, TISCs are established to support researchers and innovators at different stages of the innovation cycle by providing them with consultation services on a wide range of information in areas including patent utilisation, search analysis, technology transfer, IP management and commercialisation, thereby helping them make use of the IP system (especially by means of patents) to protect their inventions and guiding them in bringing technology to market.
More than 100 TISCs have been established on the Mainland under the dedicated programme. The Government has responded positively by participating in the programme and has set aside funding to support the HKPC to establish and operate the TISC in Hong Kong in the first three years as announced in the 2024-25 Budget, enabling Hong Kong to better integrate into national development.
The TISC in Hong Kong will focus on providing local start-ups and small and medium enterprises with high-quality IP (especially patents) information and services to assist them in exploring their innovation potential and creating, protecting, managing and commercialising their IPs, with a view to protecting research and development outcomes and promoting IP trading.
