<轉載自2018年5月16日 明報 社評>
國家主席習近平下達重要指示，支持香港成為「國際創新科技中心」，對中央來說是配合建設創新型國家的大戰略，對香港而言則是一次重構自身角色的好機會。中央今次決定，需要從「港澳融入國家發展大局」的宏觀視野思考，歷史經驗顯示，每當「香港所長」能夠結合「國家需要」，香港就可以踏上發展新台階。香港社會已有好一段日子迷失方向，失去願景，建設「國際創科中心」，實現經濟升級轉型，可以成為社會上下共同努力的新方向，只要香港爭氣奮發圖強，就有機會重新振作開創新路。
科技強國民族復興 中央勾勒香港角色
去年，24名在港中國科學院院士和中國工程院院士致函習近平，反映兩地科研合作面對的問題。一年後，習近平回信表示，香港擁有雄厚科技基礎和高素質科技人才，是內地建設創新型國家的重要力量，中央支持香港成為國際創新科技中心。科技部和財政部已根據習近平指示，多次召開會議，研究加強兩地科技合作，最新措施包括放寬科研撥款限制，本港科研機構毋須伙拍內地研究所，可以直接申請內地科研經費，資金還可撥付跨境在港使用。
本港科研缺乏資金支持。一間具規模的實驗室，每年支出數千萬元，惟政府恆常資助只得區區數百萬元。財力不足妨礙吸引人才和大型研究，不利形成可持續發展的創科生態。中央新措施有助解決經費緊絀問題，對香港科研發展是一支「強心針」，然而看待中央今次決定，還需要從更高層次觀察，務求見樹亦見林。中共十九大將「堅持一國兩制」納入新時代14點基本方略，提出港澳融入國家發展大局，「共擔民族復興歷史責任」。十九大強調粵港澳大灣區建設，為的是「融入發展大局」，至於香港可以怎樣為民族復興出力，則未見闡述。這次習近平提到，香港科技界可以為「建設科技強國實現民族復興」貢獻力量，可說是一次相當清晰的說明。
兩地加強科研合作新措施，雖然本周才公布，惟根據國家科技部說法，內地科研經費可以「過河」在港使用，早前已經落實，本港16個國家重點實驗室合作伙伴的申請悉數獲批，中央財政經費撥付已經到位。中央其實是以回應院士訴求作為切入點，一邊說出對香港的期許，一邊指出未來香港發展方向。國家「十三五規劃」將香港定位為國際金融、航運、貿易三大中心，現在國家支持香港成為第四個面向世界的國際中心，習近平還將這一目標，提升到「一國兩制應有之義」的政治高度，這比起單單為申請科研經費拆牆鬆綁，相信更叫香港科技界驚喜。
香港所長配國家需要 創科可成奮鬥新目標
創科發展是世界潮流，世界各地力爭開拓新經濟產業。本港基礎科研水平相當高，生物醫藥和傳染病研究等範疇實力尤強，惟囿於本地市場太小，加上政府短視支援不足，令科研成果產業化步履艱難，科技人才難以凝聚，形成「上游強下游弱」的發展困局。特區政府提倡創科多年，惟一直未有清晰願景和規劃，本港科技界徒有良好內功底子，卻未能有效施展。現在中央出手，將香港科技創新力量，列為國家創新體系的重要組成部分，如同是幫本港創科發展打通任督二脈，為香港打開新局面。面對13億人龐大市場，本港創科產業化的空間自然大增。
中央決意走上創新型國家之路，習近平支持香港成為國際創科中心，既是出於國家需要，也是看到香港所長。回顧歷史，由1950年代韓戰西方對華經濟封鎖，到後來中國改革開放，每當「香港所長」能結合「內地需要」，就是本港發展的黃金時代。香港能夠成為轉口貿易和國際金融中心，都是港人把握內地機遇，努力打拼的成果，遺憾是已經一段很長的時間，香港迷失了方向，政治發展未見突破，經濟發展也未見出路，深層次問題不斷惡化，人心渙散內耗不斷，社會失去了願景。然而隨着各界意識到香港發展停滯不前，加快創科發展已成為社會上下少見的共識。將香港建設成為「國際創科中心」，既切中長遠經濟發展需要，同時也可以為社會提供新的願景和奮鬥目標。
內地政策口號雖多，然而背後每每有具體內容和目標。港人未必慣聽內地政治語言，惟有需要加深了解箇中內涵，不能統統視之為「假大空」。當然，中央支持香港成為國際創科中心，還需特區政府和創科界奮發圖強；以為有了中央政策代表鴻鵠將至、香港可以穩當大灣區創科發展領頭羊，未免想得太美。成大事不能「等運到」，特區政府有責任積極協助本港創科業界，克服眼前科研人才不足、租金成本高昂等困難，同時也要投入更多資源，支援大專院校科研工作，並從基礎教育入手，加強推廣STEM教學，為未來培訓更多科研人才。
HK's drive to become a global innovative hub
PRESIDENT XI JINPING has issued important instructions, vowing to
support Hong Kong in its endeavour to become an "international hub of
innovation and technology". While the pledge is in alignment with the
central government's broad strategy of building an innovative country, it also
represents a good opportunity for Hong Kong to redefine its own role. It is necessary
to look at the central government's decision from the macro perspective of
"Hong Kong and Macao's integration into the national development
blueprint". History has shown that whenever "Hong Kong's
strength" merges with "national needs", the city enters a new
stage of development. Hong Kong society has lost its directions and aspirations
for quite some time. The building of an "international hub of innovation
and technology" will upgrade and restructure Hong Kong's economy, offering
Hong Kong a goal that everyone in society can work hard towards. As long as
Hong Kong is determined to go all out, it can have the chance to rebound and
blaze a trail.
In accordance with Xi's directive, the Ministry of Science and
Technology and the Ministry of Finance have called several meetings about
strengthening science and technology collaboration between the mainland and
Hong Kong. The latest measures include relaxing restrictions on national
technology funding so that Hong Kong science research institutions can apply
for mainland research funds directly without any partnership with mainland
institutes. Such funds can even "cross the border" and be transferred
to Hong Kong for use.
Hong Kong science and technology research has long suffered from fund
shortage. An established laboratory commonly spends tens of millions of Hong
Kong dollars a year but the recurrent assistance it can receive from the
government is only a few millions of dollars. The financial shortage represents
a challenge for attracting talent and conducting large-scale research, making
it hard to develop sustainable ecology of innovative technologies. Aimed at
helping to solve the problem of inadequate funding, the new measures by the
central government are a shot in the arm for the development of Hong Kong technological
research. Nevertheless, in order to see the trees as well as the woods, one
must also look at the central government's decision from a broader perspective.
During the 19th CPC National Congress, "upholding the principle of one
country, two systems" was written into the 14 points of basic policy
outlined by Xi. It was suggested that Hong Kong and Macao be integrated into
the nation's development blueprint and the two cities "shoulder together
the historical responsibility of enhancing national rejuvenation". The
19th CPC National Congress stressed that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area
is to be developed for the sake of "integrating into the big picture of
development", but little was mentioned about how exactly Hong Kong can
serve to contribute to national rejuvenation. Now, one can say Xi has given a
very clear elaboration about this in his latest remarks that Hong Kong's
science and technology sector can contribute to "building a strong country
of science and technology and fulfilling national rejuvenation".
Although the measures of strengthening Mainland-Hong Kong science
research collaboration were announced only this week, according to Ministry of
Science and Technology, it was already confirmed some time ago that the first
batch of funding from the mainland can "cross the border" and be used
in Hong Kong. All the applications by the 16 Hong Kong partners of state key
laboratories have been approved. And the funding from the central government is
already in place.
The central government is determined to pursue the path of building an
innovative country. Xi decided to support Hong Kong in becoming an
"international hub of innovation and technology" not only for the
sake of the country's needs but also out of his understanding of Hong Kong's
strengths. As the stagnation of Hong Kong's development is increasingly felt by
the various sectors of the city, it has become a consensus across society that
innovation and technology development must speed up. Building Hong Kong into an
"international hub of innovation and technology" will meet the needs
of mid- and long-term development of its economy. It will also offer our
society new aspirations and a new target to strive for.
國際創科中心新定位 香港重拾願景再上路
國家主席習近平下達重要指示，支持香港成為「國際創新科技中心」，對中央來說是配合建設創新型國家的大戰略，對香港而言則是一次重構自身角色的好機會。中央今次決定，需要從「港澳融入國家發展大局」的宏觀視野思考，歷史經驗顯示，每當「香港所長」能夠結合「國家需要」，香港就可以踏上發展新台階。香港社會已有好一段日子迷失方向，失去願景，建設「國際創科中心」，實現經濟升級轉型，可以成為社會上下共同努力的新方向，只要香港爭氣奮發圖強，就有機會重新振作開創新路。
科技部和財政部已根據習近平指示，多次召開會議，研究加強兩地科技合作，最新措施包括放寬科研撥款限制，本港科研機構毋須伙拍內地研究所，可以直接申請內地科研經費，資金還可撥付跨境在港使用。
本港科研缺乏資金支持。一間具規模的實驗室，每年支出數千萬元，惟政府恆常資助只得區區數百萬元。財力不足妨礙吸引人才和大型研究，不利形成可持續發展的創科生態。中央新措施有助解決經費緊絀問題，對香港科研發展是一支「強心針」，然而看待中央今次決定，還需要從更高層次觀察，務求見樹亦見林。中共十九大將「堅持一國兩制」納入新時代14點基本方略，提出港澳融入國家發展大局，「共擔民族復興歷史責任」。十九大強調粵港澳大灣區建設，為的是「融入發展大局」，至於香港可以怎樣為民族復興出力，則未見闡述。這次習近平提到，香港科技界可以為「建設科技強國實現民族復興」貢獻力量，可說是一次相當清晰的說明。
兩地加強科研合作新措施，雖然本周才公布，惟根據國家科技部說法，內地科研經費可以「過河」在港使用，早前已經落實，本港16個國家重點實驗室合作伙伴的申請悉數獲批，中央財政經費撥付已經到位。
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