HONG KONG -- A Seminar on Hong Kong Scientists' Participation in National Science and Technology Development was held in Hong Kong Friday.

Hong Kong's Commissioner for Innovation and Technology Janet Wong, and Xu Hai, deputy director-general of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs under the Ministry of Science and Technology presided over the seminar.

Wong said the seminar focused on the various paths for Hong Kong to participate in Mainland-Hong Kong science and technology cooperation under the National 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). It would help encourage more Hong Kong research institutes and personnel to participate in national science and technology programs.

He noted that the rapid developments in China's mainland and its 12th Five-Year Plan had inspired greater interest in mainland policies and measures on the innovation and technology.

Wong also spoke on Hong Kong's measures to promote innovation and technology development, in particular science and technology cooperation with the mainland. Representatives from the MOST also briefed the participants on the State Science and Technology Awards, the State R&D Programs, the National Science and Technology Programs Expert Database, and the Partner State Key Laboratory Scheme.

The seminar also featured a representative from the Chinese Academy of Sciences speaking on the academy's cooperation and exchanges with Hong Kong. Representatives from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology and the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality spoke on Guangdong-Hong Kong cooperation and the latest developments of the Industry, Academic and Research Bases in Nanshan, Shenzhen.