Hong Kong's new Innovation and Technology Bureau to absorb two departments from commerce bureau
Two departments under the remit of commerce bureau to be reassigned
Two government departments, currently under the direction of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, will be outsourced to the new Innovation and Technology Bureau when it launches, the commerce secretary announced yesterday.
Greg So Kam-leung told reporters that the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Office of the Chief Information Officer - two of nine government departments currently within his bureau's remit - would be reassigned after the new bureau's scheduled opening on November 20.
"As for the goal of the Innovation and Technology Bureau, I think it would be appropriate for me to leave that to the new secretary to introduce his work plan," So said.
READ MORE: Questions and answers about Hong Kong’s new innovation and technology bureau
He added that the commerce department would continue handling policies for telecoms, broadcasting and creative industries, despite calls from the IT sector to have them also put under the new bureau's purview and said he has no concerns about a potential overlap.
"I encourage overlap. I encourage cross-sectoral development, say in start-ups, there is innovation in terms of technology as well as design and innovation," So said, adding that overlap in policy areas should be no cause for concern because inter-bureau cooperation within the government had always been "seamless".
IT sector lawmaker Charles Mok echoed So's remarks.
"Certain overlap [in policy areas] is unavoidable," Mok said.
