shenzhen and hong kong agreed to build the lok ma chau loop (the loop) into an innovation and technology park based on the concept of combining higher education with creative industry, according to a memorandum signed at the shenzhen-hong kong cooperation conference in hong kong yesterday.
the agreement marked a milestone in the new era of shenzhen and hong kong's strategic cooperation, following cooperation in the qianhai area.
according to the construction plan, higher education and cultural innovation facilities, among others, will be built to support the development of high technology and innovation. hong kong will also support shenzhen in building shenzhen science innovation park in the 3-sq-km area adjacent to the loop north of the shenzhen river. the two sides will cooperate in building the shenzhen-hong kong technology innovation zone.
the park will be a scientific research base for the world's top universities, research institutes and enterprises.
a comprehensive high-end training facility will be built inside the park to invite the world's top universities to set up branches and institutes as well as offer training curricula related to high-tech research and industry.
the loop covers an area of 87 hectares, which will make it the largest science and innovation park in hong kong at four times the size of hong kong science park, and will play an important role in cultivating the international competitiveness of shenzhen and hong kong.
it can serve the neighboring economic region and create job opportunities, economic benefits, innovative technologies and proprietary innovations for both shenzhen and hong kong.
in 2007, hong kong announced that the development of the loop was one of its 10 major infrastructure projects aimed at economic growth.
to facilitate the plan, the "hong kong-shenzhen joint task force on boundary district development" was set up in december 2007. at its first meeting, in march 2008, the two sides agreed to conduct a joint study on the environmental impact and engineering feasibility of developing the loop.
at two meetings in june and july 2008, the public suggested possible future land uses of the loop. among the views, higher education, research and development of new and high technology and cultural and creative industries gained wide public support on both sides.
the two governments signed a letter of intent on the use of cross-boundary land along the shenzhen river in 2009 and decided that higher education should be the leading land use for the loop, complemented by high-tech research and development facilities as well as cultural and creative industries.
