問題：
剛發表的《施政報告》提出循八大方面的措施加強本港的創新及科技發展。有關措施包括增加研發資源、發展落馬洲河套地區為港深創新及科技園，以及透過粵港澳大灣區建設和港深合作，打造大灣區國際創科中心。此外，政府將成立高層次跨部門的創新及科技督導委員會，並由行政長官親自領導，以審核及督導該等措施的落實情況。就此，政府可否告知本會：
（一）鑑於政府會增加研發資源，並定下把本地研發總開支佔本地生產總值的比率，在五年內由0.73%倍升至1.5%的目標，政府有否制訂具體的短期和中期目標比率，以及落實和檢討各項措施的時間表；有否考慮訂定更長遠的目標，例如在未來十年內把有關比率提升至2.5%；若有，詳情為何；若否，原因為何；
（二）就落實發展港深創新及科技園和打造大灣區國際創科中心的措施，政府有否制訂具體的工作計劃和時間表（包括如何加強香港與大灣區內地地區的創新及科技合作計劃），藉此讓本港的工商和創新及科技界更好地把握大灣區發展將會帶來的機遇；若有，詳情為何；若否，原因為何；及
（三）就將會成立的創新及科技督導委員會及相關諮詢組織，其成員組合會否包括世界級科技專家及企業家，以及其職權範圍會否包括聽取及回應本港創新及科技界人士的訴求、制訂更長遠和全面的創新及科技發展策略，並為相關工作制訂主要績效指標；若會，詳情為何；若否，原因為何？
答覆：
主席：
行政長官在上月發表的《施政報告》提出，政府會循八大方面加強創新及科技（創科）發展，包括：（1）增加研發資源；（2）匯聚科技人才；（3）提供創投資金；（4）提供科研基建；（5）檢視現行法例及法規；（6）開放政府數據；（7）由政府帶頭改變採購方法；以及（8）加強科普教育。政府深信創科可以成為香港經濟發展的新增長點。我們會推出多項新措施，並加強現有措施，以創科帶動經濟多元發展，加強香港的競爭力。
經諮詢相關政策局後，我現就問題的三個部分，答覆如下：
（一）政府一直致力增加研發資源。目前，香港的研發開支佔本地生產總值約0.73%，並以公營投入為主，約佔55%，與其他先進地區的情況有所不同。我們的目標是在二○二二年把本地公私營研發總開支增加至約450億元，即本地生產總值的1.5%，並逐漸將公私營機構研發開支的比例從公營主導扭轉至公營及私營共同投入並以私營為主——即約45%：55%的可持續局面。為達到此目標，我們將逐步增加公共研發投入，同時鼓勵私營機構進行更多研發活動。
在公共投入方面，創新及科技基金下的各項計劃，資助能提升本港創科水平及業界發展的項目，鼓勵私營機構投資研發和應用科技，並將本地優秀研究成果商品化。基金在創科方面提供的資助，已由二○一三／一四年度的7.3億元倍增至本財政年度的逾15億元。我們會適當地向基金進行注資，以支持更多研發活動。另外，大學教育資助委員會（教資會）的資助，是本港大學研究經費的重要來源。在二○一五／一六年度，教資會資助大學研究的總支出為95.5億元，比上一年度增長超過10%。為進一步推動大學的科研，行政長官已在《施政報告》宣布，為大學研究額多投入不少於100億元。
在私營機構方面，為鼓勵企業在香港進行更多研發項目，《施政報告》提出為研發開支提供更高的扣稅金額。企業符合資格的首200萬港元研發開支可獲300%稅務扣減，餘額亦可獲200%扣減。我們已展開相關的法案草擬工作。如建議獲立法會支持，有關措施可望在二○一八年第三季落實。
我們會致力達到定下的五年目標。事實上，如私營機構所佔的研發份額能得以健康增長，把本地公私營研發總開支佔本地生產總值的比例提升至1.5%，甚至更高的百分比，並非遙不可及的目標。
（二）我們非常重視內地與香港在創科領域的合作，透過結合內地豐厚的資源及生產能力，以及香港在國際化和應用研究方面的實力和經驗，兩地產業的競爭力可得以提升，達至互利共贏。
落馬洲河套地區港深創新及科技園將會是香港歷來最大的創科平台，而粵港澳大灣區城市群發展規劃則是重要的國家發展策略，兩者均會為香港經濟發展帶來重大的機遇。
我們正全速進行發展港深創新及科技園的工作。香港科技園公司已於今年十月六日成立全資擁有的港深創新及科技園有限公司，專門負責港深創新及科技園的上蓋建設、營運、維護和管理。另外，規劃署現正整理公眾人士及相關機構就河套地區分區計劃大綱草圖提出的申述及意見，並會在本月十七日提交予城規會（城市規劃委員會）考慮。項目前期工程道路的法定程序已完成；第一期主體工程的早期籌備工作亦正同步進行。待前期工程詳細設計完成後，我們會在二○一八年上半年就河套地區前期工程的施工及第一期主體工程的詳細設計工作向立法會申請撥款。如獲立法會批准，前期工程可隨即展開。我們會爭取在二○二一年或之前向港深創新及科技園有限公司提供首幅可供發展的土地，以展開樓宇建築工程。
創新及科技局正積極參與國家發改委在粵港澳大灣區城市群發展規劃下，把大灣區發展為國際科技創新中心的研究工作。我們期望透過粵港澳大灣區建設和港深合作，貫通創科產業的上、中、下游，打造大灣區的國際創科中心。我們會繼續與內地相關政府部門保持密切溝通，積極配合內地的規劃工作，進一步推動香港與內地的創科合作。
（三）創科發展涉及不同範疇，需要跨政策局的合作及協調。行政長官在《施政報告》宣布，成立並親自主持創新及科技督導委員會，審核及督導創科八個方面的措施和智慧城市的項目。創新及科技督導委員會的成員將包括大部分司局長，以及相關的部門首長，是一個跨部門的高層次政府內部會議，可更高效地領導、協調及推進創科發展。我們已制訂委員會的職權範圍，並會盡快舉行第一次會議。
政府亦會繼續透過現行其他諮詢架構，包括由財政司司長擔任主席的創新、科技及再工業化委員會，聽取來自社會各界，包括科技專家及企業家，就推動本港創科發展及再工業化的意見。
The Policy Address recently published has put forward measures in eight major areas to boost innovation and technology development in Hong Kong. Such measures include an increase in resources for research and development (R&D), the development of the Lok Ma Chau Loop into the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, and the development of an international innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area through the development of the Bay Area and collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Furthermore, the Government will establish a high-level inter-departmental Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology, which will be personally led by the Chief Executive, to examine and steer the implementation of such measures. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as the Government will increase R&D resources, and has set a target of doubling the percentage of Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 0.73 per cent to 1.5 per cent within five years, whether the Government has set specific short-term and medium-term target percentages, as well as a timetable for the implementation and review of the various measures; whether it has considered setting a longer-term target, e.g. to increase such percentage to 2.5 per cent within the coming decade; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) regarding the implementation of the measures to develop the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park as well as to develop an international innovation and technology hub in the Bay Area, whether the Government has drawn up specific work plans and timetables (including plans on how to enhance the collaboration on innovation and technology between Hong Kong and the Mainland places in the Bay Area), so that the industrial and commercial sectors as well as the innovation and technology sectors of Hong Kong may fully grasp the opportunities to be brought by the development of the Bay Area; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) in respect of the Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology as well as the related advisory bodies to be established, whether their memberships will include world-class technology experts and entrepreneurs, and whether their terms of reference will include listening to and responding to the aspirations of the members of Hong Kong's innovation and technology sector, mapping out a longer-term and more comprehensive strategy on innovation and technology development, and formulating key performance indicators for the relevant work; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In the Policy Address delivered last month, the Chief Executive announced that the Government would step up its efforts to develop innovation and technology (I&T) in eight major areas, including: (a) increasing resources for research and development; (b) pooling together technology talent; (c) providing investment funding; (d) providing technological research infrastructure; (e) reviewing existing legislations and regulations; (f) opening up government data; (g) Government leading changes to procurement arrangements; and (h) strengthening popular science education. The Government firmly believes that I&T can become the new economic growth point of Hong Kong. We will implement various new initiatives and strengthen the on-going initiatives, in order to diversify our economy and enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness.
Having consulted the relevant policy bureaux, our reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(1) The Government is committed to increasing resources for R&D. At present, R&D expenditure in Hong Kong accounts for about 0.73 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, with public investment dominating at about 55 per cent, which is different from the situation in other advanced areas. Our goal is to increase the total R&D expenditure by local public and private sectors to about $45 billion, representing 1.5 per cent of the GDP by 2022. At the same time, we hope to progressively reverse the ratio of public sector versus private sector expenditure on R&D from government-led to public-private participation with investment from the private sector dominating, i.e. at a ratio of about 45 per cent to 55 per cent, which will make R&D funding more sustainable. To achieve this goal, we will gradually increase public R&D investment, at the same time encouraging private enterprises to conduct more R&D activities.
On public R&D investment, the various schemes under the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) finance projects that can contribute to I&T upgrading and development of industries in Hong Kong, encourage private enterprises to invest in R&D and applied technology, and commercialise outstanding local R&D achievements. The ITF has doubled its financial support for I&T from $730 million in 2013-14 to over $1.5 billion in this financial year. We will arrange injection to the ITF as appropriate with a view to supporting more R&D activities. On the other hand, the grants from the University Grants Committee (UGC) constitute the majority of research expenditure for universities. In 2015/16, the reported aggregate expenditure on research of the UGC-funded universities amounted to $9.55 billion, representing an increase of more than 10 per cent as compared with the previous year. To further promote R&D activities in universities, the Chief Executive announced in the Policy Address that no less than $10 billion has been set aside for university research.
As regards private sector, to encourage private enterprises to conduct more R&D projects, it was announced in the Policy Address that enhanced tax deduction for local R&D expenditure will be introduced. The first $2 million of qualified R&D expenditure will be eligible for a 300 per cent tax deduction, and a 200 per cent tax deduction will be provided for the remaining balance. We have already started the relevant law drafting work. Should the proposal be supported by the Legislative Council (LegCo), the initiative is expected to be implemented in Q3 2018.
We will strive to achieve the five-year goal set. In fact, if the share of R&D in the private sector can grow steadily, our target to increase the percentage of R&D expenditure to the GDP to 1.5 per cent, if not higher, is not out of reach.
