Li Jiachao: Hong Kong will not only provide a testing ground for technological breakthroughs, but will also be an accelerator for the transformation of achievements
The Zhitong Finance App learned that on August 24, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao said in his speech at the first Global Unicorn Conference that in the face of the accelerated iteration of the technological wave, Hong Kong must stand at the head of the tide and travel thousands of miles. The National Fifteenth Five-Year Plan proposes to cultivate and expand emerging industries and future industries, and improve the ecosystem for industrial innovation and development. The Fifteenth Five-Year Plan supports the construction of an international innovation and technology center in Hong Kong, bringing huge opportunities for Hong Kong to develop new quality productivity. The SAR government is preparing Hong Kong's first five-year plan, actively connecting with the 15th Five-Year Plan and making macro-level, strategic and forward-looking system arrangements for different key areas.
Last year, there were more than 11,000 mainland and overseas companies based in Hong Kong, and there were more than 5,200 start-ups in Hong Kong. Both figures are record highs. For mainland startups and unicorn companies, Hong Kong is the strongest springboard for entering the international market and a strategic fulcrum for laying out the global supply chain; for top overseas science and innovation companies, Hong Kong is the preferred hub for exploring the mainland market and a golden gateway to expand opportunities in China. Going both ways, adding value in both directions — this is Hong Kong's unique position, and it is also the unique value that our unremitting efforts bring to global enterprises.
Li Jiachao added that every unicorn enterprise has its own story, a lofty dream of daring to be the first in the world, and a process of silently working hard. On the journey of innovation and entrepreneurship, Hong Kong will not only provide a testing ground for technological breakthroughs, but will also become an accelerator for the transformation of achievements and a new world for global expansion.
The original text is as follows:
Here is Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu's speech at the first Global Unicorn Conference today (August 24):
Deputy Director Zhang Yong (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Chairman Li Dahong (Chairman of Hong Kong Dagong Wenhui Media Group), guests, business leaders, and friends:
Good morning everyone. I am very happy to attend the Global Unicorn Conference organized by Hong Kong Dagong Wenhui Media Group to gather with all the talents from the fields of scientific research, industry and investment from around the world.
Today, the world is undergoing a profound technological and industrial transformation. Life and health technology pushes the limits, artificial intelligence and robots reshape production, and new energy innovation rewrites the rules — the waves of innovation in cutting-edge technology are turbulent and intertwined, surging with a thunderous trend.
Facing the rapid iteration of the technological wave, Hong Kong must stand at the head of the tide and travel thousands of miles. The national “15th Five-Year Plan” proposes to cultivate and expand emerging industries and future industries, and improve the ecosystem for industrial innovation and development. The “15th Five-Year Plan” supports the construction of an international innovation and technology center in Hong Kong, bringing huge opportunities for Hong Kong to develop new quality productivity. The SAR government is preparing Hong Kong's first five-year plan, actively connecting with the “15th Five-Year Plan” and making macro-level, strategic and forward-looking system arrangements for different key areas.
Under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has the advantage of intranet and external communication, and acts as a “super contact” and “super value-added person” between the country and the world. Hong Kong has a world-leading capital market, a common law system in line with the international community, a simple and low-tax business environment, a global trade network, and leading international professionals.
Last year, there were more than 11,000 mainland and overseas companies based in Hong Kong, and there were more than 5,200 start-ups in Hong Kong. Both figures are record highs. For mainland startups and unicorn companies, Hong Kong is the strongest springboard for entering the international market and a strategic fulcrum for laying out the global supply chain; for top overseas science and innovation companies, Hong Kong is the preferred hub for exploring the mainland market and a golden gateway to expand opportunities in China. Going both ways, adding value in both directions — this is Hong Kong's unique position, and it is also the unique value that our unremitting efforts bring to global enterprises.
Hong Kong is one of the central cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In last year's Global Innovation Index, the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou” innovation cluster ranked first in the world, highlighting the solid foundation for collaborative innovation in the Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong has talents from home and abroad and strong basic research capabilities. Mainland cities have gathered innovative elements and advanced manufacturing is booming. We are working together to build a first-class Bay Area to promote the efficient flow of people, logistics, capital, and data — the “one-hour life circle” of the Greater Bay Area, representing enterprises, innovative ideas, production hubs, capital markets, and wonderful lives within easy reach.
Hong Kong is committed to improving the innovation and technology ecosystem, setting up a stage for start-ups, and opening up space for scientific research talents. Hong Kong's two major innovation and technology flagships — Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport — provide a full range of support for startups at different stages of development, including incubation programs, matchmaking funds, marketing and development support, and infrastructure. Numbers bear witness to strength, and achievements reveal potential. Over the past decade, we have witnessed the birth of around 20 Hong Kong unicorns, demonstrating Hong Kong's tremendous ability to nurture world-class innovative enterprises.
The Hetao Hong Kong Park, located in the northern metropolitan area, leverages the advantages of Hong Kong-Shenzhen science and technology cooperation to promote the flow of innovation resources across borders. More than 90 science and technology institutions have already settled in and will develop into a world-class science and technology innovation hub connecting the mainland and the international community. As a natural extension of Hetao, Xintian Science and Technology City provides domestic and foreign innovation and technology enterprises with full chain support throughout the upper, middle and lower reaches. Many innovation and technology parks in Hong Kong complement each other with R&D institutions to jointly build an internationally competitive innovation and technology system.
Dear guests and friends, we are proud and dedicated. The birth of every unicorn company has its own story, a lofty dream of daring to be the first in the world, and a process of silently working hard. On the journey of innovation and entrepreneurship, Hong Kong will not only provide a testing ground for technological breakthroughs, but will also become an accelerator for the transformation of achievements and a new world for global expansion.
We invite scientists from around the world to bring groundbreaking research to Hong Kong, and welcome top enterprises and investment institutions to take root in Hong Kong to join us in creating a brilliant chapter in global technological development in Hong Kong, a fertile ground for innovation and technology. Thanks everyone!
End
August 24, 2026 (Monday)
10:03 Hong Kong time